A fifth-grade teacher and her student died during a field trip to an Iowa nature reserve.
According to ABC News, the Iowa City Community School District said hat Hannah Jorgensen, 24, a fifth-grade teacher at Borlaug Elementary School in Coralville, and Ahmed Osman, 10, died while on the trip at the MacBride Nature Recreation Area on Tuesday, September 22.
The Johnson County Sheriff's Office received a call around noon of two persons in the water near the Coralville Reservoir spillway at the nature reserve, which is roughly eight and a half miles north of Iowa City.
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As per the Johnson County Sheriff's Office the bodies of Jorgensen and Ahmed were eventually found in the reservoir, investigators said. The circumstances behind their deaths during the trip are still under investigation.
Iowa City Community School pays tribute to teacher and student
The Iowa City Community School District said in a statement Wednesday, September 24, "Hannah and Ahmed were deeply valued members of our school district community, and their loss is being felt throughout Borlaug and across our district.”
"Our hearts are with their families and loved ones, as well as Hannah's colleagues and students, Ahmed's classmates and friends, and everyone who knew and cared for them," it added.
School officials said that counselors will be on hand to help with the school community.
"This is an extraordinarily painful time for the Borlaug community and our entire school district. We will continue to come together, care for one another, and keep Hannah, Ahmed, and their families at the center of our hearts in the difficult days ahead," the district said in a statement.
Jorgensen's body was first discovered Tuesday and Osman's the next day, investigators said.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds also offered her condolences and support to the school community as the investigation into the incident continues.
The investigation into the cause of the drownings is ongoing. The school board also canceled its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday night and announced continued support for those affected.
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