A SPANISH man discovered at Sandbanks with a wet suit under his sodden clothes sparked a massive search and rescue operation in Poole Harbour.

The search, which included the coastguard, two RNLI lifeboat crews and a rescue helicopter, was conducted in stormy seas amid fears illegal immigrants had jumped from a cross channel ferry heading into Poole.

But hours later, following a police interview conducted through interpreters, it became clear the Spanish national, believed to be staying locally, had never been on the ferry.

Police said the 40-year-old man was due to be bailed, while officers continue to investigate an alleged offence of wasting police time.

Exactly why he was wearing a wet suit under his clothes and swimming in the night remains unclear.

The search, likely to run into thousands of pounds, started after police found the man on the Sandbanks chain link ferry slipway at 11pm on Tuesday.

It was wrongly feared the Spaniard, a second man and two women had leapt from the Barfleur ferry, as it approached Poole from Cherbourg.

The search commenced at 1am, Wednesday, and was called off four hours later when rescuers were convinced no one else had entered the water.

Poole RNLI volunteer coxswain Jonathan Clark said the conditions were as bad as he’d seen off Poole.

“Sea conditions were appalling with squalls of up to 50 knots blowing through,” he added.

Meanwhile, RNLI crewman Paul Taylor, said: “The seas were rough, with six to eight foot swells. There were 60mph winds.

“We had the Swanage RNLI lifeboat searching next to us, but the seas were rising and falling so much, at times we just couldn’t see them.”

Police arrested the Spaniard on behalf of the UK Borders Agency under suspicion of being an illegal immigrant.

A Dorset Police spokesman said: “The man has given officers various conflicting accounts. Further enquiries by Dorset Police and other agencies have not uncovered any evidence or independent witnesses who suggest that there are further missing people.”

A UK Border Agency spokesman said: “We have established his identity and nationality and are satisfied that no further action is required by the Borders Agency because he is a European national.

“Following our enquiries we do not believe that the man jumped from a ferry or that anyone else is involved in this incident.”

Dorset Police's divisional superintendent Mick Rogers said they greatly appreciated the various agencies who had helped.