The search for British professional surfer Arran Strong, 28, has been called off and he is now presumed dead after he disappeared while paddle boarding off the coast of Portugal. Emergency services were alerted on Monday morning in the seaside resort of Arrifana following reports of Strong's vanishing 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 about 100 meters away. The National Maritime Authority (AMN) confirmed its search was suspended on Wednesday evening.
GB Surfing expressed its sorrow in an Instagram post, calling Strong "deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Arran Strong." The organization described him as "a fantastic team-mate, respected competitor and a kind, generous presence whose passion for surfing left a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him." GB Surfing added that his passing is a "devastating loss to our sport and the wider surfing community."
According to the AMN, the search concluded without the victim being located. Available information suggests Strong encountered trouble at sea while attempting to cross from Monte Clerigo Beach to Carrapateira. The accompanying friend, Pyrrait, was rescued by a nearby fishing vessel, which also recovered Strong's board.
Mr. Strong, born in the UK, had been based in Portugal since childhood. He had a notable surfing career, having competed on the Olympic stage after a fifth-place finish in the European Under 18s in 2016, which earned him an invitation to represent Great Britain at the WSL World Championship in Australia. He had also expressed aspirations for the 2020 Olympics.
Reflecting on the incident, Pyrrait described the day as one of "irreparable loss and profound sadness." He recounted that during their excursion from Monte Clerigo to Carrapateira, Strong disappeared from his board about a mile offshore from Arrifana. Pyrrait stated they had stopped briefly near Arrifana before continuing. When he caught up to where Strong should have been, he saw the board adrift.
Pyrrait described paddling to the board and repeatedly diving in the area, noting the extreme depth and poor visibility. He alerted his support partner on land, who contacted rescue services. A local fisherman assisted Pyrrait, and a search using the boat's sonar lasted for nearly two and a half hours. "He remains missing to this day and, sadly, there is virtually no chance that he is still alive," Pyrrait said.
Pyrrait shared a deep personal connection with Strong, referring to him as being "like a son" and noting they had trained together since Strong was ten years old. Despite the pain of the loss, Pyrrait indicated his intention to resume the paddle boarding crossing, in mourning but with Strong in his heart, aiming to complete it in his memory.
A source involved in the search operation indicated that gathered information suggested Strong might have experienced a health issue while paddling.