Love Island star pays tribute to ‘magical best friend’ Brit surfer who vanished after paddleboarding off Portugal coast

ShowbizCelebrity LOVE Island star Laura Crane has paid heartbreaking tribute to her surfing star best friend who vanished while paddleboarding. Arran Strong, 28, disappeared in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Portugal on Monday. Love Island star Laura Crane paid tribute to her best friend Arran Strong, who has been missing since Monday Credit: Instagram He vanished while paddleboarding off the coast of Portugal Credit: Instagram/@arran_strong He was paddleboarding with a friend near the resort of Arrifana in southern Portugal when he disappeared. The alarm was raised around 11.30am on Monday. Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter Thank you! A huge search effort was launched to find the young Brit, but it was hampered by dense fog that stopped helicopters and rescue boats from scouring the water. The search was paused overnight but continued on Tuesday morning. Laura appeared on Love Island in 2018 Credit: ITV The professional surfer pictured with Love Island star Jack Fowler after leaving the villa Credit: Rex Features Amid the search effort, professional surfer Laura has shared a slew of photos with her friend of almost 20 years. “My Magical Best Friend – This still doesn’t feel real and there there truly are no words that can quantify this loss. All I know is our world will never be the same again,” she wrote. Laura – who appeared on Love Island in 2018 – went on: “Since the day I met you 19 years ago, we were joined at the hip. “From groms on Pro Junior road trips through Europe to endless days together at home in Portugal and around the world, You have always been my biggest supporter in any room and made me believe in myself when I didn’t. Most read in Showbiz “I honestly don’t know how I would have got through the last three months without you dragging me out of the house when you didn’t hear from me for a day or so. “I gave you the nickname ‘Freak’ all those years ago because I truly knew there would never be anyone like you.” The 31-year-old continued: “Your legacy is the light that you touched each of us with. “You taught me how to live each day to the fullest, and I’d do anything to bring you back. But until we meet again, you’ll be my inspiration in everything I do. “I know you’ll be protecting us all from up there, and I’ll do the same for Henry, Mum, and your sisters down here. “I know you’d hate to see us all sad so I’ll try by best between the tears to listen to our favourite song and have a little ‘VIBEZINHO’ just as you’d have told me to , today and everyday. Love you forever, my Freak.” Arran represented Great Britain at the ISA World Surfing Games and overcame health problems to represent Team GB at the World Championships in Australia. Jose Maria Pyrrait, the friend he was out paddleboarding with, has posted a tribute to him, saying he was “like a son” to him. Comment now