Cairns cop thrown from stolen vehicle

A Cairns police officer has been injured after being thrown from a stolen car as he tried to remove the keys.

The driver punched the officer in the head several times before speeding off and hitting a police car, causing the officer to be thrown from the stolen vehicle.

Police say the vehicle then sped off but returned to the scene shortly afterwards and tried to ram the same police car, before the driver fled again.

The officer suffered facial injuries and grazes to his elbows and was treated at the scene.

Investigations are continuing.