Photographer Sussie Ahlburg's body found in Hampstead pond

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-23587175

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Police have appealed for witnesses after the body of a woman was found in the ladies' bathing pond on Hampstead Heath, north-west London.

Photographer Sussie Ahlburg, 50, went swimming in the ponds on Sunday. Her family reported her missing at 21:20 BST when she had not returned home.

The body of the Swedish photographer, who lived in Holborn, central London, was found at about 14:30 BST on Monday.

A post-mortem examination is due to take place at St Pancras Mortuary.

'Unexplained'

According to her website, Ms Ahlburg had photos published in The Guardian, The Times and Time Magazine, and she had recently started making films.

Det Sgt Trevor Plumb said: "Sussie's death is being treated as unexplained but we are keen to speak to anyone who may have seen her around the ladies' pond during Sunday.

"Sussie is five feet 10 inches tall, slim, greying hair, long legs, wearing a white 'Speedo' swimming hat, blue/transparent prescription swimming goggles, dark navy/black tankini.

"She would have travelled to the pond using her folding black Brompton bicycle."

A spokesman for the City of London Corporation, which runs the bathing ponds, said: "We are currently assisting police with inquiries into the circumstances of this very sad death.

"The swimming community on the heath is a very close one and our thoughts go out to the family and friends who have been affected by this news."