A barefoot prison escapee has been caught on camera fleeing a Sunshine Coast court after escaping custody on Thursday afternoon.

The 23-year-old man was appearing before Maroochydore Magistrates Court about 4pm Thursday when he allegedly jumped over the prisoner dock and fled the courtroom.

It sparked a 30-minute police hunt through Maroochydore by the dog squad and both uniformed and plain clothes officers.

A WIN News Sunshine Coast cameraman waiting outside the court captured the shoeless man bursting from the front door of the building and sprinting from the scene.