Royal prank station to give $500,000 to dead nurse's family

Under Australian regulations, the permission of anyone bearing the brunt of a radio prank must be sought before the call can be broadcast.

But the hospital denied on Monday that anyone within its senior management or media unit were contacted.

Holleran has insisted the appropriate checks were conducted before the pre-recorded segment was broadcast, and defended the presenters in an interview Monday with Australia's Ten Network.

The stunt was vetted by lawyers before being aired but no one else involved in the decision has been named.

The case has triggered demands for tougher regulation of the electronic media although Australia's press regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority, has not commented on whether the station broke any rules.

Saldanha's "devastated" husband and teenage children made an emotional public appearance for the first time Monday outside Britain's Houses of Parliament, speaking through lawmaker Keith Vaz, whose family is also from India.

"This is a close family. They are devastated by what has happened. They miss her every moment of every day," said Vaz, alongside Benedict Barboza and the couple's children aged 14 and 16.

"They just want me to say that they are extremely grateful to the public here in the United Kingdom and throughout the world who have sent them messages of condolences and support following the death of Jacintha, a loving mother and a loving wife."

The family later visited the King Edward VII Hospital, which is launching the memorial fund for them.

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