Portuguese authorities have officially ended the search for British surfer Arran Strong, who went missing off the country’s southern coast earlier this week.

The Autoridade Marítima Nacional confirmed on Thursday that the search operation for the 28-year-old, which began shortly after he disappeared on Monday morning, had been called off.

Strong, who lived in Portugal, competed on the World Surf League circuit for 10 years and represented Great Britain at the previous two World Surfing Games, finishing as the country’s highest-ranked surfer on both occasions.

In a statement, GB Surfing described Strong as a respected competitor and a valued member of the British surfing community.

“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,” the organisation said.

“His passing is a devastating loss to our sport and the wider surfing community, and he will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with Arran’s family, friends, teammates and all those whose lives he touched.”

According to the AMN, Strong got into difficulty while crossing from Monte Clérigo Beach to Carrapateira along Portugal’s Atlantic coast.

His friend and coach, José Maria Pyrrait, was rescued by a nearby fishing boat after the incident.

Pyrrait, who said he did not witness the exact moment Strong disappeared, recalled that the pair had stopped to drink water and take photographs before resuming their paddle.

“When I stopped to wait, I saw your board drifting about 100 metres away,” Pyrrait wrote in an emotional Instagram tribute.

“I paddled as fast as I could to get there, diving repeatedly looking for you, but we were in a deep area and visibility was very short.”

He said he immediately alerted people on shore, prompting a rescue operation, before spending another two and a half hours searching for Strong from a boat.

Describing the late surfer as “like a son,” Pyrrait said he had trained Strong since he was 10 years old.

“Arran was like a son to me… My love for him was like another son that life gave me. Rest in peace, my ‘son’,” he wrote.

Tributes also poured in from across the surfing community.

GB Surfing performance coach Luke Dillon described Strong as someone who “lived life to the fullest” and always carried “a smile and infectious laugh.”

Eight-time British national champion Lucy Campbell said, “The world is going to miss that smile so much,” while fellow British surfer Alys Barton remembered Strong as someone who always encouraged others.

“Thank you for always smiling, believing in others and lifting everyone up. You will be deeply missed,” Barton said.