A Pensioner Chokes on Bingo's Hospitality
23rd May, 2008
Betty Barton, 74, of Hempshill Vale, Bulwell, was refused water when choking in the Hucknall bingo hall yesterday.
She, her sister, Valerie Hickling 67, and a friend, Linda Dames, 60, we all enjoying their bingo game when Betty started feeling ticklish in her throat and began to gasp for breath.
Valerie explains: "Betty started to choke, despite not having anything to eat or drink. It was clear she needed water so Linda, who has a bad knee, ran up to the tea counter. She asked for a drop of water because her friend was choking but the person behind the counter told her she couldn't have any and she would have to go to the bingo-book point at the bottom of the hall to buy a bottle. We couldn't believe that in an emergency, they refused water like that. It could have been very dangerous. I can understand why they want to make money on selling bottled water but to refuse a drop of water when someone was choking is ridiculous. Even pond water would have been fine.”
Linda went downstairs and purchased a £1 bottled water. After that Betty started to feel better.
Surprisingly, Byron Bingo did not sound at all sorry for what happened. "All our customers know that the first point of call for water is the bingo-book point, even in an emergency”, said a spokesman for Byron Bingo. "The water at the tea counter is not drinking water. It would have been quicker for the lady to go to the book point because it was closer to her table. I remember the three ladies but I did not see anyone choking."
It became even more confusing when a different spokesperson insisted that they would never refuse water for a choking person.
"We would not refuse anyone a drink if they were choking. We are here to provide a service for our customers,” he stated. "But having spoken to several members of staff, they said that the lady had nothing more than a tickle in her throat. If this woman was choking, it would have stopped the bingo. But our caller, who always sees everything, didn't notice anything wrong."
By Elena
