An Australian radio station yesterday pledged at least Aus$500,000 (US$523,600) to help the grieving family of a nurse duped by a royal prank phone call, after coming under sustained scrutiny over the hoax.

Nurse Jacintha Saldanha, who fielded the hoax call from Sydney station 2Day FM to London's King Edward VII Hospital, was found dead Friday after apparently committing suicide.

The Indian-born mother-of-two put the call through to a colleague, who divulged details of the recovery of Prince William's pregnant wife Kate from severe morning sickness.

Despite the offer, the station remains under renewed pressure to fully explain how its royal prank call was cleared to air after the shattered hosts said they were not ultimately responsible.

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