For the skinny dippers

[Guest guest]

s , "Denmark's Weird Waters, *Fortean Times* 282 (Jan. 2012), p.49.

[in the 1970s there were reports of a strange creature in a small lake inKildevaeldsparken, a park on the outskirts of Copenhagen. -- bc]

A big pike could be responsible for a couple of the more dramaticsightings. Apparently, a couple of unlucky dog owners, letting their dogstake a swim in the lake, witnessed, to their horror, the water around theanimals starting to bubble, and then the dogs disappearing -- never to beseen again.

Most people would say that there is not much mystery about a big pike, butwe are about to enter the realm of the very strange. The Kildevaeldsparkenmonster hasn't been seen since the early 1980s, but things have taken asomewhat sinister turn since then. In the summer of 1999, a young couplesneaked into the park one night for a late and naughty swim. The guy gaveup -- he was too drunk. The girl was still game, though, so she dumped herclothes and went in. And to the sound of her splashing, he fell asleep.

When he awoke it was light. One or two people were out walking their dogsin the park. But the girlfriend? Well, her clothes were there, but not theslightest trace of her -- and, despite an intensive search, she was neverseen or heard from again.

The story has all the makings of an urban legend. I have never been ableto trace its source, and I have since heard several variations of it fromvarious small lakes and parks in Copenhagen.

But the sinister reputation still clings to the lake, especially since ayoung boy from a kindergarten next to the park actually did disappearwithout trace some months later. He was found drowned in the lake severalweeks after that. This time it was no legend.