Former child star Rory Callum Sykes has tragically died in the Los Angeles wildfires, and his heartbroken mum Shelley has revealed his devastating final moments
19:10, 13 Jan 2025Updated 19:11, 13 Jan 2025
A former child star has tragically lost his life in the Los Angeles wildfires.
Rory Callum Sykes died at the age of just 32 when his cottage on his mother's estate in Malibu, California, burned down on Thursday (January 9). Rory's heartbroken mother has revealed he said "leave me" before dying in the devastating Palisades fires.
Shelley Sykes rushed to her her local fire department for help after struggling to reach the emergency services via phone. She was desperately trying to evacuate her son Rory, who was blind and had cerebral palsy, from his home next to her property as flames engulfed the area.
Rory was locked in the room of the self-contained cottage and had difficulty walking but Shelley was unable to move her 6ft 5in son on her own as she had a broken arm. Recalling her son's horrifying final moments, Shelley told Australia's 10 News: "He said, "Mum, leave me", and no mum can leave their kid, and I've got a broken arm.
"I couldn't lift him. I couldn't move him. He was my baby, and he died needlessly. 'Guess what didn't work? 911. All the phone lines were down."
When she drove to the nearest fire station, she was told they had no water. Shelley recalled saying: “Oh my God, my son, he’s locked in his room.” Shelley said: “When the fire department brought me back, his cottage was burned to the ground.”
Shelley, who also appeared in Kiddy Kapers, revealed that Rory died by carbon monoxide poisoning rather than by burning. She explained: “He died with carbon monoxide poisoning rather than burning. I didn’t want any pain for my baby.”
Rory, who moved to Australia as a child, appeared on the TV show Kiddy Kapers as a youngster. He later released books and worked as a motivational speaker
The grief-stricken mother explained she had plans to rebuild her home on the same site. She added: “I’m not going to move. That’s going to be a place, a special place, for Rory and I. And we’ll make it even more beautiful than it already was.”
Shelley paid a touching tribute to her son on social media. She wrote: "It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my beautiful son @Rorysykes to the Malibu fires yesterday. I’m totally heart broken. British born Australian living in America, a wonderful son, a gift born on mine & his grandmas birthday 29 July 92, Rory Callum Sykes.
“@rorysykes was the founder with me of @happycharity a true humanitarian. He saw him self as the number one fan of @Apple & @tim_cook & most importantly an avid @RuneScape gamer! @rorysykes was born blind with cerebral palsy & had difficulty walking. He overcame so much with surgeries & therapies to regain his sight & to be able to learn to walk. Despite the pain, he still enthused about traveling the world with me from Africa to Antarctica.”
She continued: “@rorysykes was a sought after inspirational speaker for @TonyRobbins when he was only 8 years old. @CallumsCure book first published by @simonschuster in Australia was about his courage. @rorysykes had his own cottage on our 17 acre Mount Malibu TV Studio estate, decked out with all the latest apple gadgets, which burnt down yesterday 8 Jan 2024 Malibu Fires."
Shelley claimed: "I couldn’t put out the cinders on his roof with a hose because the water was switched off by @LVMWD Las Virgenes Municipal Water. Even the 50 brave fire fighters had no water all day! He will be incredibly missed by @shelleysykes, mama his pet peacocks Edgee & Mickie & all his online fans around the world!”
According to US reports, Las Virgenes Municipal Water denied her claims, saying the "water service did remain available and uninterrupted to her property and the entire surrounding community".
Three wildfires are still burning in the LA area, with the largest, the Palisades Fire, just 14% contained. 24 people have died in the wildfires.
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