IOWA CITY, IA — Authorities have identified the two people who died in a drowning incident tied to a Borlaug Elementary School of the Wild field trip: 10-year-old Ahmed Osman and 24-year-old teacher Hannah Jorgensen. Both were recovered from the Coralville Reservoir during a search that followed the tragedy at the MacBride Nature Recreation Area.

The Iowa City Community School District said the accident happened on Sept. 22, 2026, during a fifth-grade School of the Wild trip. The district said the loss has hit the Borlaug community hard and that counselors and other support staff would remain available at the school in the days ahead.

10-year-old Ahmed Osman was a Borlaug Elementary fifth-grader from Iowa City

Officials identified the student victim as Ahmed Osman, who was 10 years old and lived in Iowa City. The district said he was a fifth-grade student at Borlaug Elementary, where the trip was organized as part of the School of the Wild program.

Ahmed’s body was recovered Wednesday, one day after the incident. The district’s statement said his classmates, friends, and everyone who knew him should be remembered as the school community begins to process the loss.

School officials did not release additional details about how the accident unfolded, and the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office continues to lead the investigation. For now, the district has focused its public response on support for students, staff, and families.

Teacher Hannah Jorgensen was pronounced dead at the scene Tuesday afternoon

Authorities also identified the adult victim as Hannah Jorgensen, 24, of Tiffin. According to the district, she was a fifth-grade teacher at Borlaug Elementary and was supervising the field trip when the tragedy occurred.

Her body was recovered after noon on Tuesday, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. A photo on the Iowa City Community School District website confirmed her role as a Borlaug Elementary teacher.

The district said Jorgensen was deeply valued by colleagues and students. In its statement, the district described the loss as heartbreaking and said her death is being felt throughout Borlaug and across the school system.

Search and recovery efforts centered on the Coralville Reservoir

Both victims were recovered from the Coralville Reservoir, according to authorities. The recoveries came after a search effort that stretched across Tuesday and Wednesday following the drowning incident at the nearby nature recreation area.

The district thanked first responders and agencies that took part in the search and recovery operation. Officials said those crews worked throughout the effort as authorities tried to account for everyone involved in the trip.

The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office is handling the investigation. Authorities have not publicly said what led to the drowning or described the exact sequence of events that led to the deaths.

District says counseling and support will remain available at Borlaug Elementary

In a statement released Wednesday, the Iowa City Community School District said it is mourning alongside the Borlaug community. The district said the school will continue offering counselors and additional support personnel in the days ahead.

Officials said grief will affect students and staff differently, and the district’s focus is on giving people time, space, and support. It also said the school community would keep the two victims and their families at the center of its thoughts in the difficult days ahead.

The statement underscored how broadly the loss is being felt, from classroom peers to co-workers across the district. District leaders said the response will remain centered on care for those directly affected.

MacBride Nature Recreation Area trip leaves school community in mourning

The fatal incident took place during a Borlaug Elementary fifth-grade School of the Wild trip at the MacBride Nature Recreation Area. The district said the outing was part of a field trip experience for students, though it did not provide more specifics about the activity.

What began as a school program has now become the focus of a major loss for the district and the Iowa City area. The district’s statement described the moment as an extraordinarily painful time for the Borlaug community and the wider school system.

With the sheriff’s office still investigating, officials have continued to concentrate on recovery, support, and remembrance. The district said it will keep working with first responders and caring for the families, classmates, and staff members affected by the tragedy.