Video shows alleged dating app rapist diving into river in bid to evade police

Remarkable police helicopter footage shows a wild chase through the Gold Coast which only ended when a man facing a rape charge jumped into a river and attempted to swim from cops. WATCH THE VIDEO

A MAN who allegedly raped a woman he met on a dating website led police on a wild car chase before jumping off a bridge to escape capture after a failed car jacking.

It will be alleged the 29-year-old Maudsland man met his victim on Plenty of Fish, before raping and robbing her at an Ormeau Hills home on May 5.

Police were on the hunt for the man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, before he was spotted allegedly driving dangerously in a stolen Hyundai Santa Fe at Carrara about 11am on Monday.

The man allegedly tried to steal another car on Ross River Bridge after his vehicle was stopped by police stingers.

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Shocking Polair vision shows the erratic driving, with the man nearly crashing a number of times and hopping a curb to drive on the footpath in an attempt to evade police.

Officers threw road spikes and blew his tyres on Ross St Bridge.

The footage then shows the man block the road with his car before jumping out of his vehicle and allegedly attempting to steal another car while armed with a knife.

After the man is swarmed by police the vision goes on to show him jumping a safety rail before taking the leap into the Nerang River and attempting to swim away.

The man jumps off the bridge into the Nerang River.

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Sources have told the Bulletin two police officers ran down to the banks of the water before commandeering a boat and going after the man.

Other officers went into the water via the banks and chased the man through thick mangroves.

The vision goes on to show officers in chest deep water handcuffing the man and dragging him back to shore.

An officer broke a toe on his left foot during the chase.

The suspect attempts to swim to freedom.

A 29-year-old Maudsland man has been charged with attempted robbery, dangerous operation of a vehicle, driving a motor vehicle without a driver licence and two counts of obstruct police.

He was also charged with one count of rape and one count of stealing in relation to an incident that occurred on May 5 at an Ormeau Hills address.

The man is met by police officers in the water.

Legal Aid Queensland lawyer Bill Siganto appeared on the accused’s behalf in Southport Magistrates Court.

The accused did not appear in court.

He did not apply for bail on his client’s behalf and asked for an adjournment while a Legal Aid application was processed.

Magistrate Pamela Dowse adjourned the case to May 28, when he will appear over videolink.