Russell Crowe saved by Coast Guard while kayaking

Posted on 04 September 2012

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Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe was rescued by the Coast Guard after becoming lost on his kayak in Huntington Bay.

The 48-year-old actor was kayaking with a friend and launched from Cold Spring Harbor Saturday afternoon on New York’s Long Island Sound, Coast Guard Petty Officer Robert Swieciki told the Associated Press.

As it got dark, the two got lost and eventually headed for shore, beaching their kayaks in Huntington Bay nearly 10 miles east from where they had set out.

The Coast Guard was patrolling the area and heard Crowe call out to them from the shore about 10 p.m., Swieciki said. The “Gladiator” actor and his friend, who Swieciki didn’t recognize, paddled over to the boat. The Coast Guard officers pulled them up and, along with their kayaks, gave them a ride to Huntington Harbor.

“He just needed a little bit of help. He just got a little lost,” Swieciki told the AP. “It wasn’t really a rescue, really, more of just giving someone a lift.”

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

“It is common for the Coast Guard to assist boaters like this, but it was very cool to help Russell Crowe and his friend,” Swieciki, the boat coxswain for the case, said in a press release.

Crowe sent a Twitter message about 1:30 a.m. Sunday thanking the officers and saying he was out on the water 4-1/2 hours.

"Thanks to Seth and the boys from the US Coast Guard for guiding the way...4 hrs 30 mins, 7m(11.2km)," he wrote.

Crowe is on Long Island filming a new movie called “Noah” in Oyster Bay. The biblical epic is directed by Darren Aronofsky and scheduled for release in 2014. Crowe won an Academy Award for best actor for his role as a Roman soldier named Maximus in “Gladiator.”

Click here for the full report.

Click here for a report by The Gothamist.

The local TV station WPIX interviewed Sal Franco, who rented Crowe and his buddy the kayaks. Click here for that report.

"They wanted to paddle into Huntington Harbor," Franco said. "I don't think they knew how big it was."

Click here for a report by The Guardian.

Comments

2 Tuesday, 04 September 2012 18:56

By Philosophical

Was the name of the kayak "Surprise"? Stephen Maturin must have rolled his eyes at the news - Lucky Jack lost on New England Sound. Beat to quarters!

1 Tuesday, 04 September 2012 15:28

By lobster

"Lost on his kayak". must have been a pretty big kayak

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