Coast guard crews rescued four people from the waters of Lake Erie early Monday morning in two separate incidents that involved sinking boats.

The first was near Pt. Abino, Ont. just before 3 a.m. where a man's 37-foot sailboat was taking on water.

After determining the boat was in Canadian waters, the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Trenton, Ont. sent two boats and an aircraft. The U.S. Coast Guard Sector Buffalo sent out boat and helicopter crews as well.

The only passenger was reportedly abandoning his boat and getting into a dingy. The man, who was a U.S. citizen, was wearing a life jacket and was taken to Buffalo, N.Y, where he received medical attention.

According to a press release by the Ninth Coast Guard District, the man was reported cold but alert. His boat remains sunk off Pt. Abino.

Three Canadians were rescued a short time later near Long Point, Ont. where a woman reported a 42-foot yacht she was on capsized.

Passengers had been in the water for about two hours in 37 km/h winds, six-foot sea swells and a water temperature of 7 C.

"Had the survivors not been wearing their life jackets, it is unlikely they would have been able to remain floating in the rough conditions," said Lt. Rachel Quatroche, a helicopter pilot with Air Station Detroit.

When the crews arrived, a rescue swimmer was deployed by the U.S. Coast Guard and all three people were then airlifted to EMS in Erie, Penn.

All three survivors reportedly declined medical assistance on arrival in Pennsylvania.

Customs and Border Protection is currently making arrangements for the people to return to Canada.

A large amount of debris has been reported and both Coast Guards are working to recover it because weather may push it towards New York.