Nurse in Kate hoax call dead

"It is with very deep sadness that we confirm the tragic death of a member of our nursing staff, Jacintha S.," the King Edward VII hospital said in a statement.

"We can confirm that Jacintha was recently the victim of a hoax call to the hospital. The hospital had been supporting her," the statement added.

Local police said they were treating the death as unexplained. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene by ambulance staff.

The female nurse had been the victim of a prank call made by Australian radio presenters Mel Greig and Michael Christian from the 2DayFM station. The pair pretended to be Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles, who were trying to elicit information about the well-being of the duchess, being treated at the hospital for severe morning sickness.

Catherine, wife of the heir to the throne Prince William, was discharged from the hospital on Thursday in the early stages of her pregnancy.

jlw/jr (Reuters, AP, dpa)