After photographs of the middle-aged man, dubbed "Richard Nobody", appeared in several newspapers, he was recognised by an acquaintance who called the police.

Police and hospital authorities are refusing to name the man, or say where he comes from, but he is from outside Dorset and has no immediate family.

He was reported missing on 2 September, but says the first thing he can remember was two days later when he found himself standing at Branksome railway station, near Bournemouth.

He assumes he got there by train, but cannot remember where from.

After wandering around lost in the pouring rain, he rang 999 from a telephone box in desperation.

"As far as I'm concerned, that's where my life began," he said.

Vulnerable and sad

The mystery man was taken by ambulance to Poole General Hospital, where he has been staying.

He said: "Physically I am fine. But I feel vulnerable and extremely sad and lonely.

"I don't know what I like. Do I live on my own? Do I have a wife?"

Doctors believe he is suffering from global amnesia, a total memory loss generally associated with trying to blot out a recent traumatic event. Usually the memory returns after a short time.

Now he has been identified, the man is being transferred to a local community hospital for assessment.

There it will be decided what care he should be given and where he should live. Social services will also be involved.