Portuguese maritime authorities have called off their search for British surfer Arran Strong, 28, who disappeared in the sea off southern Portugal on Monday. The news has prompted tributes across the surfing community, with GB Surfing describing his presumed death as a devastating loss to the sport.

Strong, who lived in Portugal, competed in the World Surf League for a decade and was Great Britain’s highest-ranked surfer at the past two World Surfing Games. He vanished while crossing between Monte Clérigo beach and Carrapateira with his coach, José Maria Pyrrait, who was rescued by a nearby fishing boat; the search began at 11.33 BST on Monday and ended on Thursday.