Strong disappeared during an open-ocean paddle. He is believed to be deceased. Photo: José Maria Pyrrait//Facebook
Portuguese authorities announced that after three days of operations, the search for missing pro surfer Arran Strong has been called off in the waters off southern Portugal. Strong disappeared on Monday, July 27, while stand-up paddling with a friend a mile out to sea near Arrifana.
Strong, a 27-year-old British pro surfer who was born in Spain and lived in Portugal, joined his friend José Maria Pyrrait for part of a long-distance paddle he is undertaking from north to south of the country. However, during the paddle, when Pyrrait looked back to check on Strong, he saw the board floating and no sign of Strong.
Pyrrait alerted authorities and spent two-and-a-half hours canvassing the area with the help of the sonar tools on a fisherman’s boat. The Portuguese Maritime Authority activated a helicopter and ocean vessels to join the search. They didn’t find any sign of Strong and called off the search on Wednesday, July 29.
Pyrrait wrote on social media that there is “practically no chance that (Strong) is alive.”
In an interview with Portuguese media outlet CMTV, Pyrrait said that Strong forgot his leash and decided to continue without it, explaining why Strong was not found near his board. In photos on social media, Pyrrait has been pictured using a leash during his long-distance paddle.
Leashes are commonly used by open-ocean stand-up paddleboarders. If you fall off your board, winds and currents can carry it away from you and leave you stranded out at sea.
Strong had represented Great Britain in the previous two editions of the ISA World Surfing Games. GB Surfing remembered Strong on Instagram, calling him “a fantastic teammate” and a “respected competitor.”
“GB Surfing is deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Arran Strong,” the federation wrote. “Arran proudly represented Great Britain at the 2024 and 2025 ISA World Surfing Games, finishing as our highest-placed male surfer on both occasions.”
“His passing is a devastating loss to our sport and the wider surfing community, and he will be greatly missed,” the organization added.
Pyrrait said he is organizing a paddle out to celebrate Strong’s life in Ericeira on Saturday.
