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

A heartbreaking Iowa tragedy has left a school community mourning after a 10-year-old fifth-grade student and his 24-year-old teacher died during a school field trip at a nature recreation area.

Ahmed Osman, 10, and his teacher, Hannah Jorgensen, 24, were taking part in a fifth-grade “School of the Wild” trip at the Macbride Nature Recreation Area in eastern Iowa on Tuesday, Sept. 22, when a water emergency unfolded near the Coralville Reservoir spillway.

According to Ahmed’s father, Mohamed Osman, 59, his son fell into the water and Jorgensen tried to save him. Both ultimately drowned.

The account was given by Ahmed’s father to The New York Times and reported by PEOPLE. Authorities have not publicly released a complete account of how the two entered the water, and the circumstances remain under investigation.

A FIELD TRIP ENDS IN TRAGEDY

The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office said emergency responders received a call at approximately 12:10 p.m. on Sept. 22 reporting people in the water near the Coralville Reservoir spillway at Lake Macbride State Park.

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

The victim was later identified as Hannah Jorgensen of Tiffin, Iowa, a fifth-grade teacher at Borlaug Elementary School.

Authorities then launched an extensive search for a missing juvenile.

Search and recovery efforts continued throughout the afternoon and evening before being suspended overnight.

The following day, Wednesday, Sept. 23, responders returned to the water.

At approximately 1:24 p.m., Ahmed’s body was recovered from the Coralville Reservoir.

The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Ahmed was a fifth-grade student from Iowa City.

AHMED’S FATHER SHARES WHAT HE BELIEVES HAPPENED

As the family began grieving, Ahmed’s father described the devastating moments surrounding his son’s death.

Mohamed Osman told The New York Times that Ahmed wandered toward the lake, fell into the water and that Jorgensen attempted to rescue him.

The teacher ultimately died as well.

The account has led many to remember Jorgensen for what Ahmed’s father believes was an attempt to save her student, but officials have not yet released a detailed reconstruction confirming exactly what happened.

The sheriff’s office said on Sept. 25 that investigators were continuing to conduct interviews and gather information. Officials said there were no further details to release at that time.

“WE DIDN’T BELIEVE HE WOULD LEAVE US THIS SOON”

For Ahmed’s family, the loss has been almost impossible to comprehend.

His father said he never imagined his son would die so young.

“We didn’t believe he would leave us this soon,” Mohamed told the Times, according to PEOPLE.

He said Ahmed had “a lot of dreams,” including aspirations of becoming a doctor or a soccer player.

The family and members of the local Sudanese community gathered Thursday evening for a vigil honoring Ahmed and Jorgensen.

Their deaths have brought together classmates, teachers, neighbors and members of the wider community as people struggle to process what happened.

HANNAH REMEMBERED BY HER SCHOOL

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

The Iowa City Community School District said both were deeply valued members of the school community.

“Hannah and Ahmed were deeply valued members of our school district community,” the district said, adding that the loss was being felt throughout Borlaug and across the district.

Counselors and support staff have been made available to help students and employees cope with the tragedy.

Johnson County officials also lowered flags at county government buildings to half-staff in memory of Ahmed and Hannah, extending condolences to their families, friends, classmates and colleagues.

SCHOOL TRIPS CANCELED AFTER THE DEATHS

The tragedy has also prompted immediate changes to the School of the Wild program.

The Iowa City Community School District canceled upcoming field trips connected to the University of Iowa’s School of the Wild program for the foreseeable future.

The University of Iowa also suspended School of the Wild programming while more information about the incident is gathered.

The program provides outdoor educational experiences for elementary and middle school students through the university’s College of Education.

INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the incident.

Authorities have confirmed that numerous agencies assisted with the response, including the Johnson County Metro Dive Team, local fire departments, emergency management officials, the University of Iowa Police Department, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Iowa State Patrol.

As of Sept. 25, investigators had not publicly explained exactly how Ahmed and Hannah ended up in the water.

The sheriff’s office asked the public and media to respect the privacy of both families as they grieve.

For Ahmed’s family, his teachers and classmates, the tragedy is now being remembered not simply as a devastating accident, but as the sudden loss of a 10-year-old boy whose family said he had so many dreams ahead of him — and a young teacher whose death has left an entire school community grieving.