A German TV reporter was fired after she was caught smearing herself in mud before filming a report in a flood devastated town this week.
Susanna Ohlen, 39, muddied herself to pretend she had lent a hand with the clean up effort in Bad Munstereifel following heavy flooding that claimed at least 128 lives in Germany.
RTL.de had published an article titled 'Cleaning up after the flood: RTL presenter lends a hand in Bad Munstereifel', which featured Ohlen.
She was caught out after an onlooker posted the incriminating video online on Thursday.
The channel said: 'Our reporter's approach clearly contradicts journalistic principles and our own standards. We therefore gave her a leave of absence on Monday after we heard about it.'
RTL presenter Susanna Ohlen was fired after she was caught smearing herself in mud before filming a report in a flood devastated town this week
usanna Ohlen was caught smearing herself in mud before filming a report in the flood devastated town of Bad Munstereifel this week
Susanna Ohlen, 39, muddied herself to pretend she had lent a hand with the clean up effort in Bad Munstereifel following heavy flooding that claimed at least 128 lives in Germany
Footage appears to show Ohlen in a blue shirt, hat, and boots, bend down, pick up some mud, and smear it on her clothes while surrounded by flood damaged houses and debris.
She then bends down a second time, this time wiping the mud on her face.
The onlooker can be heard laughing in the background as she then turns back to face her camera crew.
Ohlen had worked at RTL since 2008 and presented Good Evening RTL, Good Morning
