Several hundred people have farewelled the brother of surfing world champion Mick Fanning at a service on the far north NSW coast.
Mourners packed the Tweed Heads Crematorium to farewell Peter Fanning, who died in his sleep on December 16.
The venue was overflowing, with many people forced to stand outside.
Peter's mother, Elizabeth Osborne, arrived in a limousine and famous brother Mick entered shortly afterwards.
Peter leaves his wife Kai and three children.
The construction worker's shock death dealt another devastating blow to the Fanning family who lost another son and brother, Sean, in a car crash in 1998.
Ms Osborne said a coroner's report found Peter had died from an enlarged heart.
She told the Gold Coast Bulletin that her son's heart gave up because of a serious hyperthyroid problem that had almost killed him three years ago.
News of his death came hours before Mick entered the water for the third round of the Pipeline Masters in Hawaii.
The champion surfer fought back tears in an emotional interview after his heat, which he managed to win - but he was ultimately unsuccessful in his quest for a fourth world surfing title.
Fanning has endured a number of personal hardships throughout his career.
He was the one who delivered the news to his mother that Sean had been killed in a car accident.
He also fought off a shark attack in South Africa earlier this year, while competing at the J-Bay Open.
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