Tributes have been paid to surfer Arran Strong, after searches for the Briton who went missing off the coast of Portugal were called off.<\/p>\n
The Autoridade Maritima Nacional (AMN) confirmed to BBC Sport that its search for the 28-year-old, which started soon after he went missing on Monday morning, was halted on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Strong, who lived in Portugal, had competed in the World Surf League for 10 years and represented Great Britain at each of the previous two World Surfing Games – finishing as the highest ranked British representative on both occasions.<\/p>\n
“Beyond his performances in the water, Arran was a fantastic team-mate, respected competitor and a kind, generous presence whose passion for surfing left a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him,” GB Surfing said in a statement on Instagram, external<\/a> on Tuesday.<\/p>\n “His passing is a devastating loss to our sport and the wider surfing community, and he will be greatly missed.<\/p>\n “Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with Arran’s family, friends, team-mates and all those whose lives he touched.”<\/p>\n The AMN said it was alerted to Strong getting into difficulties in the water off the Atlantic coast in southern Portugal at 11.33 BST on Monday.<\/p>\n It said: “The young man disappeared at sea while crossing from Monte Clerigo beach to Carrapateira.<\/p>\n “His friend, who was with him, was rescued by a local fishing boat that was nearby.”<\/p>\n The friend was Strong’s coach, Jose Maria Pyrrait, who said he did not see the moment in which Strong went missing.<\/p>\n