Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey reportedly helped to rescue a seal pup on the beachside in Malibu.

The "Dallas Buyers Club" star reportedly told a group of teenagers to "back off" after they began poking the animal with a stick while he was surfing on the beach in Malibu, California, reports contactmusic.com.

A source told the National Enquirer: "Matthew told the kids the seal wasn't hurt, it was resting and sunning itself - and that young pups do this all the time while the mother seal's swim close by until they are ready to re-enter the sea."

"After a 20-minute lecture on sea life, the kids were so anxious to get away that they didn't even bother to ask the star to pose for a photo," the source added.