Professional surfer Arran Strong is presumed dead after he went missing off the coast of Portugal on Monday, July 27.
Rescue workers have called off the search for Strong, 28, on Thursday, July 30, the Autoridade Maritima Nacional confirmed to the BBC.
“GB Surfing is deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Arran Strong,” Great Britain Surfing wrote via Instagram. “Arran proudly represented Great Britain at the 2024 and 2025 ISA World Surf Games, finishing as our highest-placed male surfer on both occasions.”
The statement continued, “Beyond his performances in the water, Arran was a fantastic teammate, respected competitor and a kind, generous presence whose passion for surfing left a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.”
Strong was with his coach, José Maria Pyrrait, when he disappeared. Pyrrait told the BBC that the pair had stopped at the village of Arrifana to “drink water and take some pictures.” In a post via Instagram on Tuesday, July 28, he explained that Strong “disappeared from his board when we were about a mile off the coast.”
The AMN was alerted to the incident at around 11:30 a.m. local time on Monday.
“I saw his board adrift about 100 meters away,” Pyrrait explained. “I paddled as fast as I could to get there, I dove countless times looking for him, but we were in a very deep area and visibility was very poor. I asked my partner on land for help, who automatically activated the rescue equipment. A local fisherman rescued me and the surfboards, and we spent nearly two and a half hours scanning the entire surrounding area with the boat’s sonar. He is still missing, unfortunately with virtually no chance of him being alive.”
He continued, “Arran was like a son to me; since he was 10 years old, he trained with me and spent weekends and holidays with me. As he told his mother, he was like a son of divorced parents. My love for him was like another son that life gave me.”
“Curiously, he always told me he would die young,” Pyrrait added. “At this moment I feel a deep pain; the faint consolation is that he left at sea, a place he loved so much. He was young, he had a pure and good heart, but he’s gone.”
Others from the professional surfing world have chimed in with tributes of their own.
“Arran, rest in peace,” Brazil’s Halley Batista wrote in the comments section of Pyrrait’s post. “I will cherish all our good memories forever. You are already missed here among us. We love you 🖤.”
The U.K.’s Lukas Skinner added, “I have no words 💔 going to miss you big time, you were special ❤️ sending my love to you Arran’s family and friends. Rest in peace 💔.”
