‘I'm still punching!' Sylvester Stallone dismisses bizarre hoax claiming he has died of cancer

Sylvester Stallone has laughed off a bizarre hoax suggesting the legendary actor has died in an Instagram post shared with followers on Monday evening.

Stallone, 71, insisted he was very much alive and well, putting to recent claims that he had passed away following a secret battle with prostate cancer, the Daily Mail reports.

Sharing a fake obituary with followers, in which his picture has been drastically altered to give him a frail, aged appearance, the Rocky actor wrote: “Please ignore this stupidity… Alive and well and happy and healthy… Still punching!”

Evidently delighted, one responded: “I have seen on Facebook. Wasn't sure if this was a trusted news source. Grateful it's false news and that our Action Hero Star Sylvester Stallone is WELL and Alive. And still punching strong. Keep well Mr Sylvester Stallone.”

Another added: “Thank God, I don't know you personally but have loved you for years, love your movies.”

While a third relieved fan echoed the thoughts of many, writing: Omg for a moment I thought this was true!!!”

The actor's brother Frank previously took to Twitter in the wake of the sickening claim, writing: 'Rumors that my brother is dead are false. What kind of sick demented cruel mind thinks of things like this to post? People like this are mentally deranged and don’t deserve a place in society'.