TEACHER TRIED TO SAVE 10-YEAR-OLD STUDENT DURING FIELD TRIP — BOTH DIED, FATHER SAYS

A 10-year-old boy and his 24-year-old teacher died after a tragic water emergency during a school field trip in Iowa — and the boy’s father says the teacher tried to save his son before both were lost.

Ahmed Osman, a fifth-grade student at Borlaug Elementary School, and his teacher, Hannah Jorgensen, died during a field trip to the MacBride Nature Recreation Area in Johnson County, Iowa, on Sept. 22.

Authorities were called shortly after noon after receiving a report of people in the water near the Coralville Reservoir spillway.

The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.

A FATHER’S HEARTBREAKING ACCOUNT

Ahmed’s father, Mohamed Osman, 59, told The New York Times that his son had wandered toward the water and fallen in.

According to his account, Jorgensen then tried to save the boy.

The teacher and student ultimately both drowned.

PEOPLE reported that the sequence described by Ahmed’s father has not been independently confirmed by authorities. Investigators have not publicly explained how the two ended up in the water.

“We didn’t believe he would leave us this soon,” Mohamed said of his son, according to PEOPLE.

“He left behind a lot of dreams.”

THE SEARCH FOR AHMED

Emergency responders arrived after the initial call at approximately 12:10 p.m. on Sept. 22.

At about 12:43 p.m., responders recovered an adult victim from the Coralville Reservoir. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The victim was later identified as Hannah Jorgensen, 24, of Tiffin, Iowa.

Authorities then launched a search for the missing child.

Search and recovery operations continued throughout Tuesday before being suspended overnight.

The effort resumed the following morning.

At approximately 1:24 p.m. on Sept. 23, responders recovered Ahmed from the water. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office later identified him as a 10-year-old from Iowa City.

Multiple agencies participated in the search, including the Johnson County Metro Dive Team, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa State Patrol, local fire departments, emergency medical services and University of Iowa police.

A TEACHER REMEMBERED BY HER COMMUNITY

Jorgensen was a fifth-grade teacher at Borlaug Elementary School, where Ahmed was also a student.

Following the deaths, the Iowa City Community School District described both as deeply valued members of the school community.

The district said the tragedy was being felt throughout Borlaug Elementary and across the wider district.

Counselors and additional support staff were made available to students and employees as the community began grieving.

Future School of the Wild field trips were also canceled for the foreseeable future, according to local reports.

A COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER

On Sept. 24, family members, friends and members of the local Sudanese community gathered for a vigil honoring Ahmed and Jorgensen.

Hundreds of people attended the gathering, according to local reporting cited by PEOPLE.

For Ahmed’s family, the loss has been especially difficult.

His father said the 10-year-old had dreams for his future and that the family never imagined they would lose him so young.

Jorgensen has also been remembered amid the tragedy, with Ahmed’s father describing her actions as an attempt to save his son.

INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office said on Sept. 25 that investigators were continuing to conduct interviews and gather information.

Authorities said they had no additional details to release at that time and asked the public to respect the privacy of both families as they grieve.

The official investigation has therefore not established publicly exactly what happened immediately before Ahmed and Jorgensen entered the water.

What is known is that a school field trip ended in the deaths of a 10-year-old student and the teacher who accompanied his class.

Two families are now mourning an unimaginable loss, while the school and wider community try to understand how a day intended to give children an opportunity to learn outdoors ended in tragedy.