Funeral today for 3-year-old drowning victim

A funeral will be held today in Taylors for 3-year-old Joshua Dorchak, who drowned when the family sailboat overturned June 8 on Lake Jocassee.

A Mass of the Angels funeral will be held at 7 p.m. at the Prince of Peace Catholic Church.

Joshua was the son of Jim and Lori Dorchak, who lived in the Pleasant Meadows subdivision in Gaffney before moving to Greer. Jim Dorchak, who had served in the Navy, worked as a real estate appraiser here.

Joshua and his father spent hours together on their sailboat named "Pooh Bear."

A gust of wind caused the 11- foot boat to overturn on Lake Jocassee near the Devil's Fork State Park boat landing. While both were wearing life jackets, uncle Jeff Hardee said Joshua got caught in some of the boat's rigging and was pulled under when the boat sank.

The lake is between 100 and 150 feet deep in the area where the boy went underwater.

The family released a statement late Wednesday expressing their gratitude to the many law enforcement agencies and volunteers who helped with the recovery effort. United States Navy divers, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, FBI divers, the Oconee County Emergency and Rescue Teams, and the American Red Cross worked nonstop over the past 14 days to search for Joshua.

"Jim and Lori Dorchak and the entire Dorchak family are deeply grateful to everyone who has supported us during the continued search for 3-year old Joshua," the statement read. "We are humbled and deeply moved by the outpouring of prayers and assistance from all who have contacted us after the tragedy on Friday, June 8, at Lake Jocassee."

The family has started a fund to pay tribute to Joshua (who loved firefighters) and the emergency service teams. Contributions will be used to offset the costs for providing food, drinks and snacks for the dozens of rescue workers who worked at the rescue site.

This fund is being supported by Firehouse Subs. Donations can be made to: Joshua Dorchak Memorial Fund Greer State Bank P.O. Box 1029 Greer, S.C. 29652-1029 Attn: Vic Grout