Search for British professional surfer missing off coast of Portugal

The search for a British professional surfer who disappeared while paddleboarding off the coast of Portugal has resumed today.

Rescue crews are looking for Arran Strong, 28, who vanished in the Atlantic Ocean near Arrifana, a popular surfing destination on Portugal’s west coast, on Monday morning.

The alarm was raised shortly after 11.30am after Arran became separated from his board around a mile offshore while taking part in a long-distance paddleboarding journey.

Search teams, including the Portuguese coastguard, maritime police, lifeboat crews and an Air Force aircraft, spent hours combing the area before the operation was suspended overnight. It resumed this morning.

As the search continues, Arran’s close friend and fellow paddleboarder Jose Maria Pyrrait shared an emotional tribute, describing the missing surfer as ‘like a son’ to him.

Explaining what happened, he said the pair had stopped offshore to drink water and take photographs before setting off again.

Jose said he allowed Arran to paddle ahead before catching up, but when he stopped to wait he 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.

A nearby fisherman helped search the area while emergency services were alerted.

In his heartbreaking 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.’