A 24-year-old Iowa teacher and a 10-year-old student died during a fifth-grade school field trip at Lake MacBride State Park, authorities and school officials said. The victims were identified as Hannah Jorgensen of Tiffin and Ahmed Osman of Iowa City. The incident occurred near the Coralville Reservoir spillway, prompting a search and recovery operation involving more than a dozen agencies.
Jorgensen was a fifth-grade teacher and Osman was a fifth-grade student at Borlaug Elementary in the Iowa City Community School District. The district said the trip was part of its School of the Wild program at the MacBride Nature Recreation Area. The circumstances of the incident remain under investigation.
First responders recovered an adult from the reservoir shortly after noon Tuesday. After an overnight pause, crews resumed searching Wednesday and recovered the missing juvenile in the afternoon.
| 1) | Victims identified after reservoir incident |
|---|---|
| 2) | Search and recovery operation spans two days |
| 3) | School district responds to community loss |
| 4) | Agencies assist at Lake MacBride |
| 5) | Investigation and support efforts continue |
Victims identified after reservoir incident
Hannah Jorgensen, 24, of Tiffin, and Ahmed Osman, 10, of Iowa City, were identified by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. Both were connected to Borlaug Elementary, where Jorgensen taught fifth grade and Osman was enrolled as a fifth-grade student.
Authorities said deputies responded shortly after noon Tuesday to a report of people in the water at Lake MacBride State Park near the Coralville Reservoir spillway. An adult was recovered at 12:43 p.m. and pronounced dead at the scene. The juvenile remained missing until the following day.
Search and recovery operation spans two days
Emergency personnel searched the reservoir throughout Tuesday evening for the missing child. Recovery efforts were suspended overnight and resumed Wednesday, when first responders recovered the juvenile from the water at 1:24 p.m.
The sheriff’s office has not released additional details about what led to the incident. The investigation remains active, and authorities have not announced any further findings about the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
School district responds to community loss
The Iowa City Community School District said the deaths occurred during a School of the Wild field trip at the MacBride Nature Recreation Area. In a statement, the district said Jorgensen and Osman were deeply valued members of the school community and expressed condolences to their families, classmates, colleagues and friends.
“This is an extraordinarily painful time for the Borlaug community and our entire school district. 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.”
The district said counselors and additional support personnel would remain available at Borlaug Elementary. The response is intended to support students and staff affected by the deaths.
Agencies assist at Lake MacBride
More than a dozen agencies participated in the search and recovery operation. Those involved included the Johnson County Metro Dive Team, local fire departments, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Iowa State Patrol, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and medical personnel.
The multi-agency response focused on locating the missing child after the adult victim had been recovered. The operation took place at Lake MacBride State Park and the adjacent Coralville Reservoir area, near the spillway identified by authorities.
Investigation and support efforts continue
The sheriff’s office said the incident remains under investigation. No additional cause or sequence of events was provided in the available statements from authorities and school officials.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds offered condolences to the Borlaug Elementary and Iowa City School District communities. Jorgensen had previously worked at Garner Elementary as a paraeducator and completed practicum and student-teaching experiences there. Garner staff described her as calm, dedicated and committed to students.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Teacher Hannah Jorgensen and student Ahmed Osman died during a school trip. |
| 2 | The incident occurred near the Coralville Reservoir spillway at Lake MacBride State Park. |
| 3 | More than a dozen agencies assisted with the search and recovery effort. |
| 4 | Counselors and additional support staff were made available at Borlaug Elementary. |
Summary
The deaths of a Borlaug Elementary teacher and student during a Lake MacBride field trip have prompted a major recovery response and widespread community mourning. Authorities have identified the victims and continue to investigate the incident, while the school district provides support to students, staff and families.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who died during the field trip?
Hannah Jorgensen, a 24-year-old fifth-grade teacher, and Ahmed Osman, a 10-year-old fifth-grade student, died during the trip.
Where did the incident occur?
The incident occurred at Lake MacBride State Park near the Coralville Reservoir spillway, in the MacBride Nature Recreation Area.
What is known about the investigation?
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office said the incident remains under investigation and has not released additional details about what led to the deaths.
