Emergency services have called off the search for British professional surfer Arran Strong, 28, who went missing while paddle boarding off the coast of Portugal. The search was initiated Monday morning in the seaside resort of Arrifana after reports of Strong's disappearance in the Atlantic Ocean.
Strong had been undertaking a 560-mile paddle boarding marathon with a friend, Jose Maria Pyrrait. Pyrrait reported seeing Strong's board drifting approximately 100 meters away before Strong vanished. The National Maritime Authority (AMN) confirmed the search concluded on Wednesday evening without the victim being found.
GB Surfing paid tribute to Strong, noting his achievements as the highest-placed British male surfer at the 2024 and 2025 IS World Surf Games. The organization described him as a "fantastic team-mate, respected competitor and a kind, generous presence whose passion for surfing left a lasting impression." They stated his passing is a "devastating loss to our sport and the wider surfing community."
According to the AMN, Strong disappeared at sea after encountering trouble while attempting to travel from Monte Clerigo Beach to Carrapateira. The friend accompanying him was rescued by a local fishing vessel, which also retrieved Strong's board. A source within the search operation indicated that "all the information gathered so far points to the possibility he had a health issue while paddling."
Pyrrait recounted the moments leading up to Strong's disappearance, describing how they stopped near Arrifana to rest and take photos. When they resumed their journey, Pyrrait let Strong paddle ahead. Upon catching up, Pyrrait noticed Strong's board adrift. He immediately paddled to the board and repeatedly dived in the water searching for Strong, but visibility was poor in the deep area. Pyrrait then alerted support staff on land, who contacted rescue services.
Pyrrait, who has known Strong since he was ten years old and considered him like a son, expressed profound sadness. He recalled Strong often saying he would die young, finding slight comfort that his friend's passing occurred at sea, a place he loved. Pyrrait plans to resume the paddle boarding crossing in mourning for Strong.
Strong, though born in the UK, had been living in Portugal since childhood. He had previously expressed aspirations of competing in the 2020 Olympics, highlighting his earlier successes, including a fifth-place ranking in the 2016 European Under-18s, which earned him an invitation to the WSL World Championship in Australia.