Bingo Game Plays On During Medical Emergency

Published On 25th May 2014 - This Content May Have Expired.

Gala Bingo have been taking all the headlines with their array of online promotions but they've hit the news for a totally different reason. According to reports a game at the Derby Bingo Hall continued despite paramedics performing CPR on an elderly player who had suffered a heart attack.

The Mirror reports that players were told to carry on marking their cards despite the medical emergency. Some players did call for the game to be stopped but were allegedly told by the bingo caller to leave and ask for their money back. Contrary to The Mirror's "drop dead" headline, sadly the elderly player died after being admitted to hospital

Daily Mail Show Sensitivity

The news story also appears in The Daily Mail who show their outrage over events by writing the word DYING in capital letters in their headline. They also highlight the article with black and white images of old ladies playing bingo. It's nice to see that the journalists demonstrated sensitivity and respect whilst pulling out the file images for the report. Surprisingly though the comments by their readers contain some sensible points including "Instead of being outraged and upset why didn't they just leave". Quite! We're slightly less convinced though about the "it's probably what she'd have wanted" comment though.

Gala Bingo have responded to the article with quotes to news agencies and they've also left a Facebook comment. They explained to angry customers that "We have learnt through experience that it is far better to carry on with the bingo games. It reduces the stress on the individual concerned and ensures that the other customers do not crowd around so that the staff and medics have easy access". This is apparently standard practice although Gala have not commented on the alleged remarks by the bingo caller.

The bingo giants did explain that they "delayed the main-stage bingo until the customer had been taken to hospital" but more importantly that their "thoughts are with the family at this time".


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