Avril Lavigne is not dead!

Sk8er Boi singer Avril Lavigne is the latest victim of a celebrity death hoax trend sweeping the internet.

Lavigne was rumoured to have died over the weekend whilst on an Alpine break. Confusion arose after the 'news' coincided with a real incident in which her boyfriend, Brody Jenner, was injured in a surfing accident at the same time.

The singer joins the ranks of Owen Wilson, Charlie Sheen, Adam Sandler, Aaron Carter and Eddie Murphy who have been killed off in cyber space, with all the reports claiming they had tragically died in snowboarding accidents.

The trend involves fake death announcements being posted on the website Global Associated News which are picked up by social networking sites and circulated around the world.

The celebrities involved have been forced to defend themselves online, with Aaron Carter tweeting: "'This is the real Aaron Carter I know there's a Hoax Going Around, But I'm Here, Alive & Well. At the compound Working on my mind & soul."