BRITISH SURFER ARRAN STRONG PRESUMED DEAD AFTER SEARCH HALTED

British surfer Arran Strong is presumed to have died after the National Maritime Authority (AMN) suspended its search operations off the Portuguese coast on Wednesday evening. Strong went missing on Monday morning while stand-up paddleboarding near Arrifana Beach in southern Portugal. He disappeared at sea after encountering difficulties whilst attempting to cross from Monte Clerigo Beach to Carrapateira. A friend accompanying him was rescued by a local fishing vessel, which also recovered Strong's paddleboard. The AMN confirmed the search was called off without locating Strong.

Strong was the highest-placed British male surfer at both the 2024 and 2025 ISA World Surf Games, according to GB Surfing. Jose Maria Pyrrait, Strong's long-time coach and the friend present at the time, stated he did not see Strong become separated from his board and dived repeatedly in an attempt to find him. Pyrrait described Strong as like a son to him, having trained with him from the age of 10. Strong was diagnosed with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, a genetic disorder that can cause lung damage, liver damage and skin inflammation.

GB Surfing expressed sorrow at Strong's death, describing him as a respected competitor and generous presence whose passion for surfing left a lasting impression on those who knew him. The organisation stated his passing was a devastating loss to the sport and the wider surfing community. The European Lung Foundation, for which Strong was an ambassador, also paid tribute to him as a valued contributor to the respiratory and Alpha-1 communities.