Iowa Teacher and Student Die in Field Trip Tragedy at Lake Macbride State Park
A fifth-grade teacher and a 10-year-old student from Borlaug Elementary School drowned during a School of the Wild field trip.
An Iowa teacher and a 10-year-old student died during a field trip at Lake Macbride State Park, authorities announced. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office identified the victims as Hannah Jorgensen, 24, of Tiffin, and Ahmed Osman, 10, of Iowa City. Both were associated with Borlaug Elementary School in the Iowa City Community School District.
Deputies were dispatched to the park shortly after noon on Tuesday following a report of individuals in the water near the Coralville Reservoir spillway. First responders recovered an adult from the water at 12:43 p.m. and pronounced the individual deceased at the scene. The sheriff's office stated that search efforts for a missing juvenile were suspended overnight after an unsuccessful search on Tuesday.
The search resumed Wednesday, and the juvenile was recovered from the water at 1:24 p.m. Jorgensen was identified as a fifth-grade teacher at Borlaug Elementary, and Osman was a fifth-grade student at the same school. The incident occurred during a School of the Wild field trip at the Macbride Nature Recreation Area.
The Iowa City Community School District expressed its grief over the deaths, stating that Jorgensen and Osman were "deeply valued members of our school district community." The district confirmed that counselors and additional support personnel would be available at Borlaug Elementary. The district added that it would "continue to come together, care for one another, and keep Hannah, Ahmed, and their families at the center of our hearts."
Governor Kim Reynolds also issued a statement of condolence, saying, "This unimaginable loss touches the entire Borlaug Elementary community and Iowa City School District. Please know that Iowans across our state are standing with you in the difficult days ahead."
Reports indicate Jorgensen also had prior experience at Garner Elementary, where she served as a paraeducator and completed her practicum and student teaching. Garner Elementary shared a statement mourning the loss of Osman and Jorgensen, describing Jorgensen as a "beloved member of the Garner staff."
More than a dozen agencies, including the Johnson County Metro Dive Team, local fire departments, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa State Patrol, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, assisted in the search and recovery operation. The sheriff’s office stated that the incident remains under investigation.