Star breaks Stallone's neck

Sylvester Stallone has revealed that a "vicious" fight with...

10:57 06 January 2010

Hollywood tough guy Sylvester Stallone has revealed that he broke his neck while shooting intense fight scenes for his new action movie 'The Expendables'.

The 63-year-old veteran star was grappling with wrestling star Stone Cold Steve Austin, who became so "vicious" that he needed surgery for an injury he incurred.

In an interview with NME Magazine, Stallone revealed: "Actually, my fight with Stone Cold Steve Austin was so vicious that I ended up getting a hairline fracture in my neck. I'm not joking.  

"I haven't told anyone this, but I had to have a very serious operation afterwards. I now have a metal plate in my neck.

"Man, it was seven guys, kicking each other's ass, one guy tougher than the next.

"No joke, our stunt guys were begging for mercy."

The forthcoming film unites other action veterans including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Dolph Lundgren, Mickey Rourke and the relatively young Jason Statham for a story regarding a team of mercenaries who embark on a mission to overthrow an evil dictator.

The film, which was written and directed by Stallone, also features the late actress Brittany Murphy, who died last month after collapsing in her bathroom.

Stallone was previously injured in another collaboration with Dolph Lundgren while they were shooting 'Rocky IV'.

"I gave him orders to try to knock me out while the cameras were rolling," Stallone said.

"At one point, he hit me so hard on the top of the head I felt my spine compress, he then hit me with an almighty uppercut.

"That night my chest and heart started to swell, and I had to be helicopter-ambulanced from my hotel to a nearby emergency room.

"I was told that Dolph had punched my rib cage into my chest, compressing my heart.

"If it had swollen any more, I would have died. After that, I was like, 'Dolph, it's only a movie, bro'."