MEET the Thin Goo Line of the Cairns police force.

These officers took a surprise mud bath yesterday after a man - wanted for a robbery at the RSL club - tried to escape by wading into the waist-deep mud flats off the Cairns Esplanade.

Scores of shocked onlookers watched as four police officers chased the man into the mud before threatening him with Tasers about 4.45pm. The dramatic arrest came minutes after the man, 29, allegedly used a knife to threaten staff at the RSL before stealing cash from the till.

media_camera Paramedics take the man to the back of a waiting ambulance. Picture: Marc McCormack

When officers gave chase, the man began stabbing himself in the neck before he was apprehended and dragged back to shore.

He was taken to hospital while the officers got a hose down from the local fire brigade.

Originally published as Police nab one dirty crook