A fifth-grade teacher and a 10-year-old student drowned during a field trip at Lake Macbride in Iowa. The victims were identified as Hannah Jorgensen, a 24-year-old teacher at Borlaug Elementary School, and Ahmed Osman, a 10-year-old student. Both were recovered from the Coralville Reservoir near the Lake Macbride spillway, between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. The two were participating in a fifth-grade School of the Wild field trip at the Macbride Nature Recreation Area, according to the Iowa City Community School District. The program, run by the University of Iowa’s College of Education, offers students hands-on outdoor education and nature experiences.
Deputies were called to Lake Macbride State Park around 12:10 p.m. Tuesday after receiving a report of people in the water near the Coralville Reservoir spillway, the Johnson County Sheriff's Office said. First responders recovered Jorgensen from the reservoir at 12:43 p.m. She was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. An extensive search was then launched for Osman, who remained missing in the water. Crews searched through Tuesday evening before suspending recovery efforts overnight. The search resumed Wednesday, and authorities recovered Osman's body from the water at about 1:24 p.m., the sheriff's office said.
Authorities have not yet determined what caused Jorgensen and Osman to enter the water. The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation. The Iowa City Community School District released a statement expressing sorrow over the tragedy, noting that Hannah and Ahmed were deeply valued members of the school community. The district said its hearts are with their families, colleagues, classmates, and friends. The district also canceled all School of the Wild field trips for the foreseeable future and postponed its regularly scheduled school board meeting Tuesday night following the incident.
Borlaug Elementary School officials addressed the loss in a Facebook post, thanking the community for its support. “Our building is hurting right now, and so are our hearts,” the post read. “Knowing that you are all here for us, standing beside us, checking in, and lifting us up. It means more than we can put into words.” Counselors and additional support staff are available to students and employees at Borlaug Elementary, the district said. The school district has pledged to continue providing support to those affected by the deaths.
Teacher and Student Drown During Field Trip in Iowa Lake
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