Kayak Crowe rescued by coastguard (From Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News)

Kayak Crowe rescued by coastguard

6:19am Monday 3rd September 2012 in National Entertainment News © Press Association 2013

Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe lost his way kayaking off New York's Long Island but was picked up by a Coast Guard boat and safely taken to shore, the US Coast Guard said.

The 48-year-old actor was kayaking with a friend on Saturday. They launched their kayak from Cold Spring Harbor on the Long Island Sound but lost their way as the sun went down. T

he Coast Guard said Crowe and his friend apparently made their way to Huntington Bay beach and called out to a boat on patrol.

Petty Officer Robert Swieciki said the two paddled over to the boat, got on board and hitched a lift back to Huntington Harbor.

Crowe is on Long Island filming new movie Noah in Oyster Bay.

He sent a Twitter message thanking the officers.

"He just needed a little bit of help, he just got a little lost," Mr Swieciki said. "It wasn't really a rescue really, more of just giving someone a lift."

Mr Swieciki said no one was injured and the two men were wearing life vests. He said the actor, who was grateful and friendly, seemed like he was a fairly experienced kayaker.

Crowe's Twitter message, sent at about 1.30am on Sunday, thanked the officers and said he was out on the water for four-and-a-half hours.

"Thanks to Seth and the boys from the US Coast Guard for guiding the way...4 hrs 30 mins," he wrote.