A nurse at the hospital which treated Prince William's pregnant wife Catherine was found dead yesterday, days after being duped by a hoax call from an Australian radio station, the hospital said.

The private King Edward VII hospital named the nurse as Jacintha Saldanha, who had worked there for four years, and said it had learned of her "tragic death" with "very deep sadness."

The hospital did not comment on media reports that she had committed suicide, while police said they were treating the death, which happened at a property near the hospital, as unexplained.

"We can confirm that Jacintha was recently the victim of a hoax call to the hospital.

"The hospital had been supporting her throughout this difficult time," the hospital said in a statement.

"Jacintha has worked at the King Edward VII's Hospital for more than four years. She was an excellent nurse and well-respected and popular with all of her colleagues."

In what it billed as the "biggest royal prank ever", two presenters from Sydney's 2Day FM station called the hospital on Monday pretending to be Queen Elizabeth II and William's father Prince Charles.

They asked to speak to the former Kate Middleton and a hospital receptionist then put them through to a nurse who gave the presenters private details of the Duchess of Cambridge's severe morning sickness.

Hospital chief executive John Lofthouse added, referring to the nurse who died: "Our thoughts and deepest sympathies at this time are with her family and friends. Everyone is shocked by the loss of a much loved and valued colleague."

A source in the emergency services said that while the death was being treated as unexplained it was not thought to be suspicious.

Radio presenters Mel Greig and Michael Christian apologized earlier this week for the call, even as the station was milking the publicity for it.

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