Peta and Mark Hoffman devastated by young son’s tragic death and Samford flooding

A Samford family suffered tragic third blow this week when they woke to their home flooded, ruining two years’ of recovery from the 2022 flood disaster — along with sacred belongings that “still smelt like” their late young son.

After losing their family home in the 2022 floods and their 25-year-old son unexpectedly just six months ago, a Samford family have been further devastated by flooding this week describing their world as “collapsed”.

A Samford family, who lost more than 30 years of memories when floods destroyed their home in 2022, has revealed the heartache of suddenly losing their young son shortly after, and then losing all of their restoration work in more flooding just days ago.

Peta and Mark Hoffman have lived on Samford Road since 1999 and raised their three children Tyson, Brandon and Shania at the property.

In 2022 the Hoffman's family home was obliterated by flooding.

In 2022 their family home was obliterated by the devastating floods where they lost 90 per cent of their photos, family memorabilia, furniture and more.

The family’s “world collapsed” in August 1, 2023, when their healthy 25-year-old son Brandon suffered an unexpected heart attack, while working alongside his brother and father, and died shortly after.

To add to the family’s distress, their family home was undergoing repairs and on Tuesday this week was again inundated with water, flooding the container they had purchased to store the few possessions that remained.

Mrs Peta Hoffman said they have lost everything over the past two years.

Brandon Hoffman tragically passed away in August 2023.

“I just want to get home,” Mrs Hoffman said.

“Brandon is my second child and was the healthiest with no trips ever to hospital and it was completely unexpected.

“He turned up to work 10 minutes before (the heart attack) happened and my other son and husband were joking with him about his straightened mullet.

“He bent over to pick something up and said ‘Oh sh-t’ and fell to the floor, the ambulance arrived within 10 minutes and four paramedics did everything they could but he was gone,” she said.

Mrs Hoffman said due to her insurance companies inundation with flood claims in 2022 her property was only cleared out and ready for repairs, in July 2023, one month before Brandon passed away.

“The damage from the stagnant water in the house did far more than the initial floods did, we had to wait a really long time,” Mrs Hoffman said.

“We ended up having the house raised to nearly three metres from the ground to ease the impact of future floods.

“This time the house itself was not affected but the container with our precious photographs, the two caravans on our property and Brandon’s car, his pride and joy that still smelt like him, were all destroyed.

“At 3pm on Monday afternoon (January 29, 2024) we went to the property and the creek was flowing, but I could see rocks at the bottom.

“By 1am the house was completely flooded and there was no way in,” she said.

Mrs Hoffman said despite the devastating impact her property has endured from the floods she intends to continue with repairs in memory of Brandon.

“He grew up here and we have so many happy memories, it’s lifted so ridiculously high now it looks like a house on match sticks,” Mrs Hoffman said.

The Hoffman family; Peta, Mark, Tyson, Brandon and Shania.

“If we get flooded again, not only Samford is in huge trouble but the whole of Brisbane will be because it’s now up so high,” she said.

The Hoffman family expressed their gratitude to the community who have generously supported them during the last two years.

“We have so many friends and amazing people around us who have offered their services to help us fix up our home,” Mrs Hoffman said.

“The kindness has been overwhelming, I almost feel guilty because I know there are so many others who have been flooded twice too,” she said.

Friends of the Hoffman family have set up at GoFundMe family to help support them through this journey, if you can donate please click here.