A teacher in the US state of Iowa has died alongside a 10-year-old pupil after she attempted to rescue him from drowning in a lake. Hannah Jorgensen, 24, tried to save year 5 pupil Ahmed Osman after the boy wandered over to a lake in the Macbridge Nature Recreation Area earlier this week. Despite her efforts, both died.
Rescue and recovery
First responders were alerted at about 12:10pm on Tuesday following a report of people in the water at Lake Macbridge. They recovered Hannah's body about 30 minutes later and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Crews carried out searches overnight and later found Ahmed's body in the water at about 1:34pm the following day.
The incident happened during a Borlaug Elementary trip to the recreation area located in eastern Iowa. Ahmed's father, Mohamed Osman, 59, told The New York Times, on September 24, that Hannah tried to save his son but that both drowned. He added: "We didn't believe he would leave us this soon."
School district statement
The Iowa City Community School District said in a post shared to social media earlier this week that staff "hearts are shattered" by the loss of Ahmed and Hannah. Its statement said: "Their absence will be felt in the classrooms and hallways of Borlaug, in the lives of those who loved them, and throughout our entire school district community."
"In the difficult days ahead, we will hold one another close and continue to surround the Borlaug community with love, care, and support. We will remember Hannah. We will remember Ahmed. And we will carry their memory with us."
Tribute to Hannah
Hannah's dedication to her pupils and passion for her profession were shared in an obituary following her death. The obituary shared on the Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service website heaped praise on the late teacher.
"Those who knew Hannah knew she had her mind set on being a teacher at an early age," the obituary read. "For one Christmas she asked Santa for an overhead projector, with subsequent Christmases it became white boards and markers."
"Hannah enjoyed so much in life, spoiling herself with pedicures, make overs and her perfume. She enjoyed cooking, drinking her caffeine in whatever form it came, listening to music, attending concerts, taking walks, hiking, sand in her toes on the beach and simple lazy days."
"She adored her students, friends and family and what she shared with them was her sense of humour, such wisdom for such a young age, calming presence, patience, confidence and immense love for all those around her. You didn't have to be in a classroom to learn from Hannah, and her wish for all of us would be to carry on with the kindness and love that she so freely shared."
Hannah is survived by her fiancée Dylan Johnson.
