Family mourn loving teen Dean Hofstee
THE family of Dean Hofstee have been devastated by the loss of their son, brother and nephew who they say was larger than life.
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THE family of Dean Hofstee have been devastated by the loss of their son, brother and nephew who they say was larger than life.
The 19-year-old student's mother Fran said: "My son is dead, he's gone. We're just devastated."
His aunt, Cairine Lambole, said the family was reeling from the tragedy.
"He's part of a fantastic family and his brothers and sister that are left behind are devastated," Ms Lambole said.
"He was like my own son . . . a fantastic guy."
She said the nursing student and volunteer surf lifesaver aspired to be a doctor.
"He would have got there one day," she said. "He was destined for big things."
Ms Hofstee said her son would be sorely missed.
"He loved everybody, he didn't waste any time. He would have done anything for anybody," she said.
Friends have described Mr Hofstee as "a genuine and honest guy" and have flooded his Facebook page with messages of sympathy.
Fellow student Katie Rose said she was in shock.
"I think that Dean was such an amazing guy, far beyond his years indeed," she said. "This event is truly a tragedy and Dean will be missed immensely."
Some Griffith students taking part in the Australian University Games in Melbourne - where Mr Hofstee was about to compete in water polo - have withdrawn from the competition.
Australian University Sport CEO Don Knapp said the students were given the option of staying or going home.
"It's a horribly sad, tragic incident but the spirit of young people is very admirable so they are doing the best they can in a bad situation," he said.
Competitors in the games held a minute's silence at noon yesterday at 20 venues across Melbourne in memory of Mr Hofstee.
Ms Hofstee said she hoped her family's situation would serve as a lesson to others.
"You see it as a statistic and then you become a statistic," she said.
"It won't bring Dean back, but certainly everybody's lives he touched, they will know never to drink and drive."