Michael Andreas Hofer died at his home in Byron Bay on February 18, 2024.
Michael was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada on June 4, 1975 to parents Helmut Matthew Hofer and Margaret Mary Burnett.
He graduated from Sir Winston Churchill High School in 1993, and then went on to receive a Bachelor of Physics from the University of Calgary 2002, and a Bachelor of Health Science from the Australian College of Natural Medicine in 2007.
Michael had a brilliant mind, always on the quest for truth. As a physicist and acupuncturist, he came from a lineage of world-changing men – his father invented the 3D imaging technology that was later adapted for medical use (MRI) on behalf of Texas Instruments.
Michael’s interests and talents were vast and varied.
As a truth-seeker, philosopher, system designer and engineer, Michael sought to make complex problems accessible. He was always learning new things. One week, he was researching mitochondria, and the next he was building his own house.
He was incredibly generous with his time and was frequently called upon by the local community for his expertise, including (but definitely not limited to) testing and advice specifically around EMF radiation, pathogen control and healthy home biology.
Lyme disease
Michael was a fierce advocate for open and honest conversations about the reality of Lyme disease, which he contracted from a tick bite in August 2023.
Australian chronic Lyme patients are kept in a state of perpetual torture – the existence of it denied by our government, while patients battle complex chronic neurological and blood/respiratory diseases, often alone. Lyme drops your immune system like AIDS, and can perpetuate into your mind like syphilis (with comparable stigma).
Often undertreated or misdiagnosed, it must be treated early. One of the hardest parts of Michael’s last few months was being treated as a medical ‘hot potato’ in Australia.
Eventually, Michael was forced to travel to Mexico to receive treatment, where there was no controversy or medical gaslighting.
It was his desire that the realities of Lyme disease be widely known and recognised so crucial early treatment can be sought in this country. For more visit www.lymedisease.org.
He is survived by his sweetheart and wife of 18 years, Ruth, daughters Imogen, Kirra and Jasmine, son Andreas, and beloved older brother Rick.
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