An inmate who allegedly armed himself with a large carving knife from Hobart's Risdon Prison kitchen before escaping beneath a closing roller door has been charged with assaulting a teenage boy while on the run.
Marcus Denis Mayne, 27, fled the jail's minimum security section and ran into bushland about 8.30am on Monday, police said.
While at large for almost two hours Mayne jumped into the Derwent River and swam out to a yacht, scrambled aboard and cut the mooring ropes in an attempt to make a getaway.
But armed water police, along with a helicopter quickly closed in and Mayne was taken into custody.
Divers later recovered two knives from the water.
During the hunt, police set up road blocks in the area and checked vehicles while more than 50 officers joined the search.
Mayne was first spotted on a walking track at Geilston Bay in the company of a teenager.
Inspector Douglas Rossiter said the 16-year-old boy was uninjured, but Mayne was later charged with his assault.
Mayne is due to face Hobart Magistrate's Court on Tuesday on charges including escaping custody, aggravated burglary, stealing, and destroying property.
At the time of his escape Mayne was preparing vegetables in the prison's kitchen, jail boss Brian Edwards said in a statement.
He managed to leave the facility through an access point that's used for deliveries.
"At this stage, the reason for the escape is unknown," Mr Edwards said.
"Mayne applied for parole in July but was refused, as the Parole Board felt that he needed more preparation prior to release."
The prison will conduct its own investigation into the breakout.
