Get you up to speed: Search for British professional surfer missing off coast of Portugal | News World
A search is ongoing for British professional surfer Arran Strong, 28, who went missing while paddleboarding about a mile offshore near Arrifana beach in Portugal. The alarm was raised shortly after 11.30am on Monday, and rescue crews including the Portuguese coastguard and maritime police have resumed their efforts following a suspension overnight.
The search for Arran Strong resumed with the involvement of the Portuguese coastguard, maritime police, lifeboat crews, and an Air Force aircraft after being suspended overnight. Portugal’s National Maritime Authority is providing psychological support to Arran’s family as the investigation into the circumstances of his disappearance continues.
The search for 28-year-old British surfer Arran Strong, who went missing off the coast of Portugal, has continued with support from the Portuguese coastguard and various rescue teams. Portugal’s National Maritime Authority is providing psychological support to Arran’s family as investigations suggest he may have suffered a medical episode during the incident.
What remains unclear — It remains unconfirmed whether Arran Strong suffered a medical episode during his paddleboarding.
Search resumes for British professional surfer missing off Portugal coast
Rescue crews are looking for the British surfer near Arrifana beach in Portugal (Picture: Getty Images)
The search has resumed for a British professional surfer who disappeared paddleboarding off the coast of Portugal.
Arran Strong, 28, went missing on Monday after becoming separated from his board around a mile offshore in the Atlantic Ocean near Arrifana during a long-distance paddle.
The alarm was raised shortly after 11.30am at the popular surfing destination on the country’s west coast.
Rescue crews, including the Portuguese coastguard, maritime police, lifeboat crews and an Air Force aircraft, searched the area for hours on Monday before the operation was suspended overnight.
Now, as the search has resumed this morning, Arran’s close friend and fellow paddleboarder Jose Maria Pyrrait, who was with Arran before he went missing, has described him as being ‘like a son’ to him.
Jose said the pair had stopped offshore to drink water and take photographs before setting off again.
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Arran Strong disappeared while paddleboarding off the coast of Portugal (Picture: Getty Images)
After he allowed Arran to paddle first before catching up, he later found Arran’s board drifting alone in the water.
‘I paddled to it as fast as I could and dived over and over again looking for him, but we were in very deep water and visibility was extremely poor,’ he wrote in an emotional tribute.
A nearby fisherman helped search the area while emergency services were alerted.
In his message, Jose added: ‘Arran was like a son to me. Since he was 10 years old, he trained with me and spent weekends and holidays with me.
‘He always told me he would die young. Right now, I feel a deep pain. The only faint comfort is that he departed at sea, the place he loved most.’
Born in the UK, Arran was based in Portugal for several years and represented Great Britain in international surfing competitions, most recently competing at the 2025 ISA World Surfing Games.
Previously, he spoke about living with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, which is a rare genetic condition affecting the lungs and liver, and said surfing had become a vital part of managing his health.
‘The ocean is the place where I can forget all my troubles,’ he said. ‘It’s calming and healing for me to be surrounded by water.’
Maritime Police chief Hugo Bravo da Guia, who is coordinating the search, said there was nothing unusual about the sea conditions when Arran disappeared.
‘The wind was fine, the ocean was fine. Nothing in the weather conditions appears to explain a disappearance in such conditions, considering also their experience,’ he said.
A source close to the investigation said early information suggests Arran may have suffered a medical episode while paddleboarding, although this has not been confirmed.
Portugal’s National Maritime Authority said psychological support is being provided to Arran’s family while search efforts continue.
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