The daughter that lost her mum during a bingo game has praised the bingo caller who continued with the games as her mum lay on the floor dying. As with many bingo clubs Gala, has a policy not to stop the game and this has attracted criticism towards the caller and the management of the bingo club with some customers walking out.

While the paramedics worked to save the life of Williamina Cornes, 66, she was declared deceased shortly afterwards.

Linda McKee, was at the bingo club with her mum when she collapsed and said the staff at the Gala Bingo club in Coatbridge were “a great help”.

The 39 year old added: “The staff looked after me very well until the paramedics arrived. So thanks again, Gala staff.”

Both bingo players at the club and those reading the reports in the media have accused Gala of being more concerned about making money than the health of their customers.

One of the players that walked out of the club during incident in disgust claimed that the management were “sick”.

Another player wrote on the local media website: “Bingo before life. This is Scotland 2012.”

Gala Bingo like many bingo clubs have a policy to continue as stopping the game actually makes matters worse as bingo players crowd the scene making it difficult for the First Aiders, Paramedics and Management to deal with the situation.

Calling a game of bingo under such extreme circumstances is a difficult task and there has been a lot of support from bingo players for the caller, Joe Casey.

A message posted on Facebook by Bobbie Lees and re-posted by bingo regulars said: “We would like Joe to know all his friends are behind him 100 per cent.

"It has always been policy in most bingo clubs to continue to call no matter what is taking place within the hall.

“People who know Joe personally know he is a kind-hearted soul who has been devastated by this incident.”

Liz Melia posted: “Joe doesn’t make the rules, he just follows them. It’s a disgrace for anyone to blame Joe for this.”