Professional surfer Arran Strong, 28, was declared presumed dead following a disappearance off the coast of Portugal, according to the UK’s sports governing body. Strong was a mile off the coast with his coach, Jose Maria Pyrrait, when they paused to drink water and take photos before continuing their journey.

Pyrrait recounted on Instagram that he let Strong go ahead while keeping his typically faster pace. “I always catch up and wait,” he said. Upon stopping to wait during this instance, Pyrrait noticed Strong’s surfboard drifting 100 meters away. Despite paddling quickly and diving to search, the area was deep with limited visibility.

Pyrrait sought assistance from his shore partner, and a nearby local fisherman picked him up. They spent about 2.5 hours searching for Strong using the boat’s sonar equipment.

The Autoridade Marítima Nacional (AMN) reported being alerted about Strong’s difficulty at sea at 11:33 BST Monday while crossing from Monte Clerigo Beach to Carrapateira. Although Pyrrait’s companion was rescued by a local fishing boat, the search for Strong was halted by AMN on Thursday.

Pyrrait expressed his sorrow in his Instagram post, stating, “Arran was like a son to me.” He described Strong as a long-term training partner and friend since childhood, sharing weekends and holidays together. Pyrrait noted Strong’s fondness for the sea and lamented the profound pain of his passing.

Strong was Great Britain’s top-ranked surfer, competing in the World Surf League for ten years. He represented the country in the last two World Surfing Games.

GB Surfing issued a statement about Strong’s “tragic passing,” acknowledging his impact as a teammate and competitor. They conveyed condolences to Strong’s family, friends, and all those affected by his loss.

The statement emphasized Strong’s role in the sport and his lasting impression on the community.