British Surf Champion Arran Strong Dies After Tragic Incident Off Portugal Coast

(British surfer Arran Strong Photo Credit: Punch News)

Arran Strong, a British surfer who vanished earlier this week off the southern coast of Portugal, is no longer being sought after by Portuguese officials.

The search for the 28-year-old, which started soon after he vanished on Monday morning, has been canceled, the Autoridade Marügeima Nacional stated on Thursday.

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British surfer Arran Strong has died after getting into difficulty while paddleboarding along Portugal’s Atlantic coast, prompting an outpouring of tributes from across the surfing community.

Strong, who lived in Portugal, competed on the World Surf League circuit for 10 years and represented Great Britain at the previous two World Surfing Games, finishing as the country’s highest-ranked surfer on both occasions.

In a statement, GB Surfing described Strong as a respected competitor and a valued member of the British surfing community, saying that beyond his performances in the water, he was a fantastic team-mate and a kind, generous presence whose passion for the sport left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him.

The organisation said his passing was a devastating loss to the sport and the wider surfing community, extending its thoughts and condolences to his family, friends, teammates and all those whose lives he touched.

According to authorities, Strong got into difficulty while crossing from Monte Clérigo Beach to Carrapateira along the coast.

His friend and coach, José Maria Pyrrait, was rescued by a nearby fishing boat after the incident.

Pyrrait, who said he did not witness the exact moment Strong disappeared, recalled that the pair had stopped to drink water and take photographs before resuming their paddle.

In an emotional tribute shared on social media, Pyrrait said that when he stopped to wait, he saw Strong’s board drifting about 100 metres away, prompting him to paddle as fast as he could to the spot, diving repeatedly in search of him, though visibility was poor in the deep waters.

He said he immediately alerted people on shore, triggering a rescue operation, and spent a further two and a half hours searching for Strong from a boat.

Describing the late surfer as like a son to him, Pyrrait said he had trained Strong since he was 10 years old, adding that his love for him was like that for another son life had given him, and wished him rest in peace.

Tributes also poured in from across the surfing community. GB Surfing performance coach Luke Dillon described Strong as someone who lived life to the fullest and always carried a smile and an infectious laugh.

Eight-time British national champion Lucy Campbell said the world would miss his smile so much, while fellow British surfer Alys Barton remembered him as someone who always encouraged others, thanking him for always smiling, believing in others and lifting everyone up, and saying he would be deeply missed.