Stamford police rescued a 70-year-old man whose canoe capsized Thursday afternoon while he was fishing in Long Island Sound.

Police responded to the water off Sea Beach Drive after a witness called 911.

Lindsey Kijek says she was folding clothes when she saw a canoe capsized and a man struggling to hang onto the canoe.

"So I ran out--I said 'Do you need help?,'" Kijek said. "He didn't answer me so immediately I called 911."

Authorities say the victim, identified by police as Aurelio Toldeo, lost his canoe and managed to make it to a floating dock, where he was struggling to hold on.

"The waters were choppy, it was windy," said Sgt. Charles White. "It was very hard to hold on to and he was being pulled like almost underneath the dock."

Responding Officer Robert Bossone took off his equipment and swam out to help him stay afloat.

Sgt. White and Officer Christopher Festa then assisted in the rescue by providing Toldeo with a kayak that he was able to hold on to while being towed to the shore.

In a Facebook post, the Stamford Police Department reminded the public about the importance of personal flotation devices while out in the water.

Toldeo was taken to the hospital where he was treated and released.