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."