Cause of Kate-prank nurse’s death to be revealed today as inquest opens

The result of a post mortem on the nurse who apparently killed herself after being duped by two Australian DJ hoax callers will be released at the inquest into her death today, Scotland Yard has said.

The examination to establish the cause of Jacintha Saldanha’s death began on Tuesday and has concluded but its result will not be officially announced until the hearing at Westminster Coroner’s Court this morning.

Ms Saldanha’s family are set to receive more than £300,000 from Southern Cross Austereo (SCA), the parent company of Sydney station 2Day FM, whose presenters were behind the prank call.

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The death is not being treated as suspicious and the inquest is expected to be opened and adjourned.

SCA is to resume advertising on 2Day FM today, and until the end of the year all profits from the adverts will be donated to a memorial fund established in aid of Ms Saldanha’s husband and teenage children. A minimum contribution of £320,000 will be made, the company said.

Labour MP Keith Vaz has been campaigning on behalf of the nurse’s husband Benedict Barboza, daughter Lisha, 14, and son Junal, 16, and has called on King Edward VII’s Hospital, where she worked, to hold a full inquiry and offer further support to her loved ones. It has been reported that the family did not know about the hoax call until after Ms Saldanha’s death.

The Labour MP has said: “They want the facts to be established so that they can effectively grieve.”

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In response to Mr Vaz’s criticism, the hospital said its chief executive, John Lofthouse, spoke to the nurse’s husband by phone last Friday and offered to meet him whenever he wanted.

The hospital has also established a memorial fund in Ms Saldanha’s name to provide financial support for her family, and made the first donation to the fund.

During the hoax call, the nurse transferred the DJs, believing they were the Queen and Prince of Wales, to a colleague who described in detail the Duchess of Cambridge’s condition during her treatment for pregnancy sickness.

It is understood the family are making arrangements to return Ms Saldanha’s body to her native India where a private memorial service is expected to be held.

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