AceShowbiz - Pop punk Avril Lavigne has a real-life hero in beau Brody Jenner. "The Hills" star saved her from drowning during a recent surfing lesson.

The 'Sk8er Boi" hitmaker, who has been linked to Jenner since February, was enjoying a personal lesson from the reality TV star in Malibu, California when she was knocked off her surfboard. But Lavigne was in safe hands as Jenner rushed over to the singer and helped her to the shore, where she recovered from the sea scare, reports America's Star magazine.

A source says, "A big wave flipped her into the water upside down. Brody swam over and dragged Avril to shore, but she'd had the wind knocked out of her - she'd swallowed a bunch of water and was coughing. When Avril realized what happened, she was so thankful Brody was there to save her."

Lavigne split from husband Deryck Whibley in 2009.