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Man held for suspected ferry leap Man held for suspected ferry leap
(about 2 hours later)
A massive search took place off the Dorset coast when a man apparently jumped overboard from a cross-Channel ferry as it approached Poole Harbour. A massive search took place off the Dorset coast after a man said he had jumped from a cross-Channel ferry as it approached Poole Harbour.
The man is believed to have leapt from the Barfleur in stormy conditions en route from Cherbourg on Tuesday night. The man said he had leapt from the Barfleur along with others in stormy conditions en route from Cherbourg.
A man was later arrested after being found with a wetsuit under his clothes at the Sandbanks-Studland chain ferry. He was held on suspicion of illegal immigration after being found nearby at the Sandbanks-Studland chain ferry.
Coastguards initially believed two men and two women were in the water but the search was called off at 0500 GMT. Police have since said he is Spanish and they do not believe he or anyone else went overboard.
Coastguards initially believed two men and two women were in the water on Tuesday night but the search was called off at 0500 GMT on Wednesday.
'Conflicting accounts''Conflicting accounts'
Dorset Police said there was no evidence to suggest anyone else was missing.Dorset Police said there was no evidence to suggest anyone else was missing.
"The man has given officers various conflicting accounts," a spokesman said. Officers found the man at the chain ferry wearing a wetsuit under soaked clothing just after 2300 GMT on Tuesday.
Officers are continuing to search for evidence that may "help determine the exact circumstances of this incident", he said. The search began soon after.
"The man, whose identity is yet to be established, was subsequently arrested on behalf of the UK Borders Agency under suspicion of being an illegal immigrant." "The man has given officers various conflicting accounts," a police spokesman said.
The UK Border Agency said it was working closely with police to try to identify the man and his immigration status. The UK Border Agency said it was "satisfied that no further action is required by the border agency because he is a European national (Spanish)".
The suspect was taken to Poole Hospital for treatment but was later discharged and remains in police custody. "Following our inquiries, we do not believe that the man jumped from a ferry or that anyone else is involved in this incident."
The suspect was taken to Poole Hospital for treatment but was later discharged.
He was indicating he was with three other people so the lifeboats were launched Anne-Marie Clark, RNLIHe was indicating he was with three other people so the lifeboats were launched Anne-Marie Clark, RNLI
Brittany Ferries said the name the man had given police did not match anyone on their passenger lists. Earlier, Brittany Ferries said the name the man had given police did not match anyone on their passenger lists.
Spokesman Stephen Tuckwell said if the man had jumped from the ferry he must have been a stowaway, adding no-one had seen him go overboard.Spokesman Stephen Tuckwell said if the man had jumped from the ferry he must have been a stowaway, adding no-one had seen him go overboard.
"Certainly, he never checked in with us," Mr Tuckwell said."Certainly, he never checked in with us," Mr Tuckwell said.
"We have no evidence that he jumped off our ship.""We have no evidence that he jumped off our ship."
Search and rescue crews, including a coastguard helicopter, battled stormy weather conditions for several hours searching the area.Search and rescue crews, including a coastguard helicopter, battled stormy weather conditions for several hours searching the area.
Anne-Marie Clark, of the RNLI, said: "He didn't speak English. He was indicating he was with three other people so the lifeboats were launched."Anne-Marie Clark, of the RNLI, said: "He didn't speak English. He was indicating he was with three other people so the lifeboats were launched."
A Portland Coastguard spokeswoman said: "We have had gale force winds and rain, so we have had a really tough search."A Portland Coastguard spokeswoman said: "We have had gale force winds and rain, so we have had a really tough search."
She said the man had been found "cold and wet" and added: "The search was terminated with further information."She said the man had been found "cold and wet" and added: "The search was terminated with further information."