One of the Australian radio presenters who staged the royal hospital prank that was linked to the suicide of a London nurse has been awarded the title of “Top Jock”.
His employer, radio station Southern Cross Austereo, awarded the prize of a trip to LA to Michael Christian.
Christian was the joint winner of one of the categories in the company’s internal competition, Yahoo! reports.
The competition is said to recognise the “best in the land”.
Michael Christian and his co-presenter at the time Mel Greig made a prank call to the London hospital treating Kate Middleton in the early stages of her pregnancy.
Nurse Jacintha Saldanha put the call through to a colleague who revealed details of Middleton’s medical condition.
Saldanha was found hanged in her apartment days after the call.
Christian’s award has sparked debate in Oz as many don’t believe he should have been given the title.
“To be seen to be rewarding people so soon after such an event, I think, is just in bad taste,” National Communications Minister Stephen Conroy told a Melbourne radio station.
Christian was in his first week at the Sydney station 2DayFM when the prank was staged.
“Regardless of all that’s happened in the past few months, I’m still at the top of my game,” Christian said in a statement.
“It felt good to see my name at the top of the final leader board.”
