Peter Fanning farewelled in emotional service at Tweed Heads

PETER Fanning was today remembered as a loveable larrikin who would do anything he thought was fun, despite the consequences.

Peter Fanning was remembered in an emotional service at Tweed Heads.

PETER Fanning was today remembered as a loveable larrikin who would do anything he thought was fun, despite the consequences.

The father-of-three and eldest brother of champion surfer Mick Fanning was farewelled in an emotional service at the Tweed Heads Crematorium.

The 43-year-old died from a heart condition in his sleep at his Tweed Heads unit on December 16.

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Funeral service for Peter Fanning, the older brother of three time world surfing champion Mick Fanning. Mick Fanning and his wife Karissa Dalton. Picture: Jerad Williams

More than 200 mourners packed the Kirkwood Rd chapel and grounds this morning.

Peter’s mother Elizabeth Osbourne, his brother Ed Fanning and his eldest daughter, Madeline Fanning, all gave touching eulogies.

Ed said his brother was his best mate and always lived his life to the full.

“Whether he was having a beer, going for a surf or driving his car, everything Pete did was full on — it was just his way,” he said.

Elizabeth Osborne, Peter and Mick Fanning's mother. Picture: Jerad Williams

A photo slide show of Peter’s life was played to Rolling Stones’ Wild Horses and the service was ended with Nothing Else Matters by Metallica, one of Peter’s favourite bands.

Peter is survived by wife Kai and three children Madeline, Nardia and Hunter.

Mick learned of his brother’s death just moments before he was due to paddle out in the fourth round of the World Surfing League’s final event of the season at Pipeline in Hawaii.

Commenting to his 705,000 Instagram followers after the heat, Mick labelled Peter a “hero” who helped him find the strength to keep competing, because that’s what “Pete would want”.

It’s not the first tragedy faced by the Fanning family, brother Sean was tragically killed in a car crash in 1998.

Friends and family were invited to a wake at the Rainbow Bay Surf Life Saving Club after the service.

Funeral service for Peter Fanning, the older brother of three time world surfing champion Mick Fanning. Picture: Jerad Williams,

Originally published as Peter Fanning farewelled in emotional service at Tweed Heads