British nurse in radio hoax attempted suicide before: report

British nurse in radio hoax attempted suicide before: report

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An undated family photograph of Jacintha Saldanha, the Indian-origin nurse who died after being hoaxed by an Australian radio show trying to reach Prince William's wife in London, is shown to journalists in Shirva town, some 400 kilometres (250 miles) from the southern Indian city of Bangalore, on December 8, 2012. The family of the Indian-origin nurse who died after being hoaxed by an Australian radio show trying to reach Prince William's wife in London said they were shocked to hear the "horrible news". 

The British nurse who apparently killed herself after being duped in a radio prank involving the royal family reportedly attempted suicide twice before.

Jacintha Saldanha, 46, visited family in her native India in December 2011 when she overdosed on pills and was rushed to the hospital, according to reports in British and Indian press.

Nine days later, the mother of two tried to take her life again by jumping from the building, the Daily Mail reported Saturday. The newspaper said she was given psychiatric treatment and antidepressants for nine months.

A family member told the Indian Express that Saldanhda had been taken to Father Muller Medical College Hospital, where she trained to be a nurse in the 1980s, last Christmas.

“We are not commenting on whether it was a suicide attempt,” the unidentified family member said.

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The Indian Express said medical records suggest she was suffering from a depressive disorder that stemmed from stress.

Saldanhda was found dead in her London apartment on Dec. 7 hanging by a scarf from a wardrobe. Investigators said they found three suicide notes in her room, but haven’t publicly disclosed what’s in them.

Saldanha was the senior nurse on duty at King Edward VII’s Hospital three days earlier, when two Australian shock jocks called pretending to be Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth checking in on Kate Middleton.

The Duchess of Cambridge was admitted the day before for a bout of severe morning sickness after she and husband Prince William revealed she’s pregnant.

Saldanha transferred the call from the two deejays, Michael Christian and Mel Greig, to another nurse who provided information about Middleton’s condition.

Her apparent suicide made international headlines and sparked outrage against Christian and Greig, who were yanked off the air on Sydney’s 2Day FM.

London authorities are deciding whether to file criminal charges against the pair.

Scotland Yard declined to say what they could face, the Daily Mirror reported.

Meanwhile, Australia’s communications authority has launched an investigation into whether the radio station broke any guidelines by airing the hoax. The station’s owner has said it was properly vetted.

Saldanha’s body was flown back to India for a Catholic burial last week.

Her husband, Ben Barboza, spoke earlier at a memorial in Westminster Cathedral and became emotional with grief, according to reports.

“I feel a part of me has been ripped out,” Barboza said. “Without your beautiful smile and sparkling personality, the house is an empty place to live.”

eortiz@nydailynews.com