A search is underway for British professional surfer Arran Strong, 28, who went missing during a stand-up paddle boarding excursion off the coast of Portugal. Police and coastguards resumed their efforts on Tuesday near the resort of Arrifana, north of the Algarve, after the alarm was raised on Monday.
Strong was paddle boarding with a friend, Jose Maria Pyrrait, who was undertaking a 560-mile marathon along the Portuguese coast. Pyrrait reported that Strong disappeared from his board approximately one mile offshore from Arrifana. According to Pyrrait's account, they had stopped briefly for water and photos. When they resumed, Pyrrait, who paddles faster, let Strong go ahead. Upon catching up, Pyrrait found Strong's board drifting about 100 meters away and was unable to locate him despite repeated dives in the deep water with poor visibility.
Pyrrait alerted his support partner on land, who then notified rescue services. A local fisherman assisted in retrieving the boards, and a two-and-a-half-hour search using boat sonar yielded no results. Pyrrait expressed grave concerns, stating there was "virtually no chance that he is still alive" and described Strong as being like a son to him, having trained with him since the age of 10.
Maritime Police chief Hugo Bravo da Guia confirmed that searches, including land, sea, and air operations, were continuing. He noted that weather conditions at the time did not appear to explain the disappearance, given the experience of both individuals. A source suggested a possible health issue might have occurred while paddling.
Strong, who was born in the UK but had lived in Portugal since childhood, was an accomplished surfer. He had previously expressed aspirations to compete in the Olympics, referencing his fifth-place finish in the 2016 European Under 18s, which earned him an invitation to the WSL World Championship in Australia. Online records indicate he competed in events such as the Caparica Surf Fest 2025 and the Pro Taghazout Bay in Morocco during the 2025/2026 season.
Pyrrait stated his intention to resume his paddle boarding marathon in mourning but in honor of Strong, aiming to complete the journey with his friend in his heart.
