Boy back in custody after mistaken release

A teenage boy who was mistakenly released from police custody on the Gold Coast has handed himself back in.

The boy was remanded in custody in Southport Magistrates Court on Saturday over a violent attempted carjacking but was set free after posing as another prisoner.

Police said he was one of two boys inside a holding cell and when an officer called the other boy, who had been granted bail, the 15-year-old stepped forward and was allowed to leave.

Officers then tried to catch him but he ran away and managed to evade capture for close to 24 hours.

He finally presented at the watch-house with his lawyer around 11:45am on Sunday and has been charged with one count each of escape lawful custody and stealing.

Police say they are reviewing the circumstances surrounding his mistaken release.

The boy was arrested on Friday following an attempted carjacking that left a girl fighting for her life.

It's alleged the boy and the girl, also 15, tried to carjack a 24-year-old woman's car after she offered them a lift from Harbour Town shopping centre on Thursday night.

The panicked driver drove away and hit the 15-year-old girl who is in a critical condition.