Australian DJs behind Duchess prank suspend their show over suicide tragedy

Australian DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian have suspended their radio show after learning the British nurse they duped into giving up information about the pregnant Duchess Of Cambridge live on-air has taken her life over the prank.

Jacintha Saldanha was discovered unconscious outside the King Edward VII Hospital in London on Friday (07Dec12), just two days after she was targeted by the 2Day FM hosts - who pretended to be royal family members calling to get updated medical information about Prince William's wife Catherine, who was a patient at the time.

Greig and Christian became international celebrities following the prank call and spent much of Wednesday and Thursday (05-06Dec12) laughing about the incident - but now the practical joke has turned tragic, they have pulled themselves off-air.

A statement from officials at Southern Cross Austereo - the company that owns the station featuring the DJs' irreverent show - reads: "SCA and 2Day FM are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the death of nurse Jacintha Saldanha from King Edward VII's Hospital.

"SCA and the hosts have decided that they will not return to their radio show until further notice out of respect for what can only be described as a tragedy."

Greig and Christian are said to be "deeply shocked".