Professional surfer Arran Strong presumed dead after disappearing in Portugal

Professional surfer Arran Strong was presumed dead four days after going missing off the coast of Portugal in a tragic incident, the sports governing body in the UK confirmed.

The 28-year-old was a mile off the coast with his coach, Jose Maria Pyrrait, when the pair stopped to take a drink of water and take pictures. After taking a break for a few minutes, Pyrrait let Strong go ahead of him and then lost sight of him.

“In short: we stopped off Arrifana to drink water and take some pictures. We were there for a few minutes talking, when we started again,” Pyrrait wrote in a post on Instagram. “I let him go ahead. Since my pace is faster. I always do that. When I would catch it and get a short lead I’d stop and wait for it.”

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Arran Strong of Great Britain looks on during Qualifying Round 2 of the ABANCA Pantin Classic Galicia Pro on Aug. 21, 2020, in Pantin Beach, La Coruna, Spain. (Jose Manuel Alvarez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

“This time it was no different, but when I stopped to wait, I saw your board drifting about 100 meters away. I paddled as fast as I could to get there, diving repeatedly looking for it, but we were in a really deep area and visibility was very short.”

Pyrrait said he immediately reached out to his partner on shore for help, and a local fisherman picked him up. They spent nearly 2 1/2 hours “scouring” the area for Strong using the boat’s sonar.

The Autoridade Marítima Nacional (AMN) told BBC Sport it was alerted to Strong having difficulties in the water at 11:33 BST Monday.

“The young man disappeared at sea while crossing from Monte Clerigo Beach to Carrapateira,” the AMN told the outlet.

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Britain’s Arran Strong competes in the men’s repechage 6 heat 5 during day 7 of the ISA World Surfing Games, a qualifier for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, off La Marginal beach in Arecibo, P.R., on March 1, 2024. (RICARDO ARDUENGO/AFP via Getty Images)

“His friend, who was with him, was rescued by a local fishing boat that was nearby.”

The AMN confirmed that its search for Strong was halted Thursday. Pyrrait said Strong was like a “son” to him in his heartbreaking post.

“Arran was like a son to me; he had been training with me and spending weekends and holidays with me since he was ten years old—as I used to tell his mother, he was like the child of divorced parents. I loved him as if he were another son life had given me,” Pyrrait wrote.

“Curiously, he always used to say he would die young. Right now, I feel profound pain; my only faint consolation is that he passed away at sea—a place he loved so dearly. He was young, with a pure and good heart, but he is gone. I feel empty and weary, yet life goes on.”

Strong was the highest-ranked British surfer when he competed for Great Britain in each of the last two World Surfing Games. He competed in the World Surf League for a decade.

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Arran Strong of Great Britain surfs in Qualifying Round 2 of the ABANCA Pantin Classic Galicia Pro on Aug. 21, 2020, at Pantin Beach in La Coruna, Spain. (Jose Manuel Alvarez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

GB Surfing released a statement on the “tragic passing” of Strong Tuesday.

“Arran proudly represented Great Britain at the 2024 and 2025 ISA World Surf Games, finishing as our highest-placed male surfer on both occasions. 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,” the statement said.

“His passing is a devastating loss to our sport and the wider surfing community, and he will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with Arran’s family, friends, teammates and all those whose lives he touched.”

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