Two 19-year-old men were rescued Wednesday night after strong currents pushed their small boat approximately eight kilometres from shore.

A spokesperson from the Toronto Police's Marine Unit said the two men were paddling in Lake Ontario when their boat got "caught in the wind" at approximately 7:45 p.m.

"There was a severe wind warning in effect today. They got caught in that wind," he told CTV Toronto. "What started out as a quiet day for them, paddling close to shore turned into a near disaster for them."

He said the water conditions on the lake were "extremely rough" at the time of the incident.

"We ourselves were hitting a couple of six-footer (waves) out there."

The yellow and green dinghy the two men and their boat were eventually brought to safety at Ashbridges Bay.

Police said the boat, which was not designed for paddling in large lakes, was not equipped with lifesaving equipment. Police said both men were fined $200 for not having life-jackets onboard.