The Victorian man, who has never held a driver’s licence, is accused of stealing a car in Victoria before driving north on Monday night.

Police and Pol Air followed the allegedly stolen Holden Commodore after spotting the car in Macquarie Fields.

The driver dumped the car in a dead end on Trevone Street in Padstow before fleeing on foot.

He was seen jumping a fence and running through a backyard, taking a tumble as officers closed in.

The man found himself on the banks of Salt Pan Creek off the Georges River, where he took of his shirt and dived into the river.

He was seen swimming into the middle of the river where he floated for more than 30 minutes.

He was eventually plucked from the river by police 200 metres downstream.

Mitchel Fry, 33, was taken into police custody.

Police searched the Commodore and allegedly found several number plates and a knife.

Fry was refused bail in court today.