Russell Crowe -- Help! I Got Lost Kayaking

Russell Crowe was "Les Miserables" Saturday night -- when he got lost in the waters of Long Island while kayaking and had to be rescued (kind of) by the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Academy-Award winning actor was out kayaking with a buddy in the Long Island Sound ... but as it got darker, they lost their way.

Not knowing where to go, Crowe and his unnamed friend headed for shore -- problem is they ended up beached 10 miles away from where they started and were STRANDED. Crowe eventually saw a patrol boat from a distance and called out.

The 48-year-old actor paddled to the rescue boat -- which belonged to the U.S. Coast Guard -- and got a lift home, along with his friend.