Royal hoax call: Horrified medics found nurse Jacintha Saldanha hanging but alive

An Indian-origin nurse, who died in a suspected suicide after being duped by two Australian DJs' prank call to a hospital treating a pregnant Kate Middleton, was found hanging, British media said today, a day before the release of the result of an autopsy on her.

46-year-old Jacintha Saldanha, a mother-of-two who was staying in a block of nurses' flats, was found hanged on Friday last at her staff accommodation, three days after being fooled by the prank call during Kate's stay at the King Edward VII Hospital in Marylebone, Central London, the media said.

The nurse's husband, Benedict Barboza, desperately tried to track her down in the hours before her suspected suicide.

According to Daily Mirror, Barboza had not heard from his wife for two days so he phoned one of her friends to check on her.

It quoted a family source as saying that the pal called at Saldanha's official accommodation at around 9.30pm on Thursday.

But 49-year-old Benedict did not hear anything back from the friend, who was one of Saldanha's fellow nurses, and his wife was found dead at 9.25am the next day, the source said.

It is understood the family is making arrangements to return Saldanha's body to her native India, the report said, adding a private memorial service is expected to be held later this week.

In its report, Sky News said, "Initial official statements suggested that she (Saldanha) was alive but unconscious when she was discovered, however it is now understood she was found dead."

The death is not being treated as suspicious. The results of the post-mortem examination are not yet known, and an inquest is due to be opened and adjourned tomorrow, the report said.

Metropolitan Police, meanwhile, said the result of the autopsy on Saldanha will be released tomorrow.

The cause of Saldanha's death will not be released until a Westminster Coroner's Court hearing tomorrow, the Scotland Yard said.

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