TEACHER AND 10-YEAR-OLD STUDENT DIE DURING IOWA FIELD TRIP AS FATHER SAYS SHE TRIED TO SAVE HIM

A 24-year-old teacher and her 10-year-old student have died after a tragic water incident during a school field trip in Iowa.

Hannah Jorgensen, a fifth-grade teacher, and Ahmed Osman, a fifth-grade student, were both from Borlaug Elementary School in Iowa City.

The tragedy happened on September 22, 2026, during a fifth-grade School of the Wild field trip at the MacBride Nature Recreation Area near Lake Macbride and the Coralville Reservoir spillway.

TEACHER RECOVERED FROM THE WATER

The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were called at around 12:10 p.m. after receiving a report of people in the water near the Coralville Reservoir spillway.

Emergency crews arrived and recovered an adult victim from the water at approximately 12:43 p.m.

The victim was later identified as Hannah Jorgensen, 24, of Tiffin, Iowa. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities then launched a search for a missing child.

SEARCH FOR AHMED CONTINUED OVERNIGHT

The search for Ahmed continued throughout Tuesday afternoon and evening before recovery efforts were suspended overnight.

Crews returned the following morning.

At approximately 1:24 p.m. on September 23, first responders recovered the body of Ahmed Osman, 10, of Iowa City, from the Coralville Reservoir.

Ahmed was a fifth-grade student at Borlaug Elementary, where Jorgensen taught.

The school district said the deaths had devastated the school community.

“Hannah and Ahmed were deeply valued members of our school district community.”

The district said counselors and additional support personnel would remain available to students and staff as they grieve.

FATHER SAYS TEACHER TRIED TO SAVE HIS SON

According to Ahmed’s father, Mohamed Osman, his son fell into the water and Jorgensen attempted to save him.

Mohamed shared that account with The New York Times, as reported by USA Today.

However, authorities have not publicly released a detailed reconstruction of how the two entered the water, and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office said on September 25 that investigators were still conducting interviews and gathering information.

The sheriff’s office has not announced any further details about the circumstances surrounding the incident.

SCHOOL TRIP ENDS IN TRAGEDY

The field trip was part of the University of Iowa’s School of the Wild, an outdoor education program for elementary and middle school students.

Following the deaths, the Iowa City Community School District canceled future School of the Wild field trips for the foreseeable future, while the University of Iowa suspended the program pending further information.

Multiple agencies assisted with the search and recovery operation, including the Johnson County Metro Dive Team, local fire departments, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa State Patrol, University of Iowa Police and emergency medical teams.

The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office said its investigation remains active.

In its latest statement, the sheriff’s office asked the public to respect the privacy of both families as they mourn.

The tragedy has left the Borlaug Elementary community grieving the loss of a teacher and a young student whose lives ended during what had been intended as an educational outdoor experience.