Hampstead Heath drowning fears as cops hunt swimmer who vanished cooling off at ponds on hottest day of year
A SWIMMER at a North London pond is feared to have drowned this afternoon after he was believed to have gone for a dip but failed to return.
Police closed the Highgate Men's Bathing Pond in Hampstead Heath at about 4.25pm after reports of a bather going missing.
A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said they responded to a reports of the bather vanishing while his clothes remained on bank of the pond.
Officers and London Ambulance Service (LAS) are on the scene and are searching the pond and surrounding area along with lifeguards.
The pool will remain closed for the remainder of the day.
A witness told Sun Online: "It's quite a grim scene. There are lifeguards on surfboards who are searching the water.
"People are shocked and are watching from the water's edge.
"The missing man is in his 30s. His friends reported him missing after he did not return back after swimming."
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The men-only pond has been packed as London sizzles in the hottest day of the year with temperatures exceeding 26C.
The mercury could reach 30C tomorrow.
More to follow...
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