Sylvester Stallone reveals punch to the chest nearly killed him while filming Rocky IV

Sylvester Stallone has revealed he nearly died while filming Rocky IV.

The 75-year-old actor made the revelation in his newly released YouTube documentary, The Making of Rocky vs. Drago by Sylvester Stallone. 

In the doco, Stallone recalled the first day of filming fight scenes with Dolph Lundgren, who played his character Rocky's rival Ivan Drago in the movie. 

READ MORE: All the best deals on offer during Click Frenzy 2021

"The first thing we shot [was] my entrance, his entrance and the introductions and then I got really injured during the fight and I had to be flown into intensive care to California from Canada," he said in the doco.

Stallone, who also directed the 1985 film, said he encouraged Lundgren to show off his martial arts skills and show his "dominance" in the fight scene, so he did.

READ MORE: Prince Harry urged to axe $182.5 million Netflix deal

"Well, he pulverised me," Stallone said. "And I didn't feel it in the moment but later that night my heart started to swell.

"My blood pressure went up to 260 and I was going to be talking to angels, next thing I know I'm on this emergency, low-altitude flight. I'm in intensive care surrounded by nuns and then after that, I had to go back and finish the fight."

READ MORE: Wicked fans petition to keep James Corden out of film adaptation

The actor said he was then taken to the intensive care unit where he remained for four days. 

As for the scene? Stallone said the footage was exactly what he wanted and Lundgren's punch to his chest that lead to his injury still features in the original movie. 

"How could you take that out?" Stallone concluded in the documentary.