A man has been charged after police spent several hours attempting to arrest him during a dramatic cat-and-mouse chase that has since been viewed millions of times online.
The incident took place at Tallebudgera Creek, a popular water sports spot on the Gold Coast, last week.
“Police have charged a 31-year-old man following an incident at Tallebudgera Creek on Friday, Feb. 28,” a Queensland Police Service spokesperson told news.com.au.
“He has been charged with two counts of serious assault on a police officer.”
He is expected to appear in Coolangatta Magistrates Court on Monday, March 24.
According to The Gold Coast Bulletin, police and paramedics were called to the area after reports were made of a man behaving “erratically” in the water around 10 a.m.
Upon arrival, police tried to engage the man and assist him, however, he was unwilling to co-operate, and his behavior escalated.
Footage of the incident was shared on TikTok, racking up over six million views.
It shows the man throwing several punches at officers as he grapples with three of them on the beach while stunned beachgoers look on.
One officer then appears to start tasering the man as he retreats into the water to evade them, with the taser seemingly having no effect on him.
Once in the water, a police jet ski circles him and attempts to guide him to shore, but he zigzags across the creek.
At one point, the man tries to grab onto the jet ski, but it pulls away.
Eventually, he latches onto the back of a surf lifesaving craft, which brings him to shore and into the arms of waiting police, who handcuffed him in knee-deep water.
9News reported the man evaded capture for up to three hours in the water before surrendering around 1 p.m. when he grew tired.
“What getting arrested looks like in Australia,” read the text over the viral TikTok.
“Running into a body of water while getting tased is crazy,” commented one person on the clip.
“The taser didn’t affect him one bit?” someone else asked.
“I’d love to know the story of the lead up to this,” someone else shared.
“That backwards run needs to be an Olympic sport!” joked someone else.
“This is pure gold. I seriously love our country so much!” concluded another viewer.
