Overview
- Arran Strong disappeared while stand-up paddleboarding during a sea crossing from Monte Clérigo to Carrapateira, an episode reported to authorities on Monday when his coach raised the alarm.
- Portugal’s Autoridade Maritima Nacional said it suspended search operations on Wednesday evening after several days of boat, aerial and sonar sweeps failed to locate Strong.
- His coach, José Maria Pyrrait, reported finding Strong’s board drifting about 100 metres away, dove repeatedly in poor visibility, was picked up by a local fishing boat and spent about two and a half hours searching before calling for help.
- Strong is being widely presumed dead and has drawn tributes from GB Surfing and the surfing community, while officials have not confirmed a cause and an unnamed source suggested a possible but unverified health incident during paddling.
- A 28-year-old World Surf League veteran, Strong represented Great Britain at the 2024 and 2025 ISA World Surfing Games and lived with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, a detail that has been noted in remembrances of his life and advocacy work.