Martin Sheen stunned to learn his son almost drowned

Martin Sheen was stunned to learn his son Emilio Estevez almost drowned on the set of Apocalypse Now as they were piecing together memories from their relationship for a new book.

The Breakfast Club star recalls his brush with death in Along The Way, explaining his father's co-star Laurence Fishburne had to rescue him.

Sheen tells Access Hollywood there were were many things his son revealed for the book that he didn't know - but the near-drowning was among the most amazing.

He says, "We didn't have a clue that that had happened.

"I wanna call Laurence and thank him... I would have gone up and hugged and kissed him and thanked him (on the set) but I didn't have a clue."