An Iowa teacher and a 10-year-old student from the same elementary school were found dead after a field trip to Lake Macbride State Park turned deadly this week.
Hannah Jorgensen, 24, of Tiffin, and Ahmed Osman, 10, of Iowa City, were identified Wednesday by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office as the victims of the drowning incident. Both were part of the Iowa City Community School District’s School of the Wild program at the Macbride Nature Recreation Area when tragedy struck shortly after noon on Tuesday.
Deputies responded to reports of people in the water near the Coralville Reservoir spillway. First responders recovered Jorgensen from the reservoir at 12:43 p.m. And pronounced her dead at the scene. The search for Ahmed continued through the evening before efforts were suspended overnight, resuming Wednesday morning. His body was recovered from the water at 1:24 p.m.
The Iowa City Community School District confirmed that Jorgensen was a fifth-grade teacher at Borlaug Elementary and Ahmed was a fifth-grade student at the same school. The district released a statement expressing its grief over the double loss.
“Hannah and Ahmed were deeply valued members of our school district community, and their loss is being felt throughout Borlaug and across our district,” the district wrote. “Our hearts are with their families and loved ones, as well as Hannah’s colleagues and students, Ahmed’s classmates and friends, and everyone who knew and cared for them.”
The district pledged ongoing support for those affected, noting that counselors and additional personnel would remain available at Borlaug Elementary. “This is an extraordinarily painful time for the Borlaug community and our entire school district,” the district added. “We will continue to come together, care for one another, and keep Hannah, Ahmed, and their families at the center of our hearts in the difficult days ahead.”
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds also weighed in with condolences on Wednesday. “This unimaginable loss touches the entire Borlaug Elementary community and Iowa City School District,” Reynolds wrote. “Please know that Iowans across our state are standing with you in the difficult days ahead.”
Before joining Borlaug Elementary, Jorgensen had built connections at another school in the district. Garner Elementary posted on social media about her previous role there as a paraeducator, where she also completed her practicum and student teaching experiences.
“Hannah’s calm presence, willingness to go above and beyond, and love for all students made Hannah an amazing person and educator,” the Garner Elementary post stated. The same message extended sympathies to both families and the Borlaug community during what it called “this terribly difficult time.”
The recovery operation drew resources from more than a dozen agencies. The Johnson County Metro Dive Team, local fire departments, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa State Patrol, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and medical personnel all assisted in the search and rescue efforts that spanned two days.
The sheriff’s office has indicated that the incident remains under investigation, with no further details released about the circumstances that led to both victims entering the water during the supervised school activity.
Counselors will remain on site at Borlaug Elementary as students and staff process the loss of their teacher and classmate.