Rory Callum Sykes, a 32-year-old blind former Australian child actor with cerebral palsy, tragically died during the Palisades fires that destroyed his family’s Malibu cabin on January 8.
Rory had featured in several episodes of the British TV show “Kiddy Kapers,” which his mother, author Shelley Sykes, hosted at their 17-acre estate.
Expressing profound sorrow on X, Shelley said, “It is with great sadness that I announce the death of my beautiful son yesterday in the Malibu fires. He overcame significant challenges with surgeries and therapies to regain his sight and walk. Despite his pain, he remained enthusiastic about traveling the world with me.”
According to 10 News First, embers from the deadly blaze landed on the roof, igniting the cabin and trapping Rory inside. Shelley tried to rescue her son but a broken arm hindered her efforts. “He said, ‘Mom, leave me,’ but no mom can leave her son,” she recounted through tears.
Shelley Sykes said her son died in a fire that destroyed his home in Malibu. https://t.co/iOPvzbEhKg pic.twitter.com/jAgaNMPWsv
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) January 11, 2025Shelley attempted to douse the fire with a hose but failed because the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District had reportedly cut off the water supply. She recounted the efforts of “50 brave firefighters” who also struggled with the water shortage.
Read: Historic Andrew McNally House Destroyed in California Wildfires
When the “911” service was down, Sykes drove through smoke-filled roads to seek help. By the time Shelley and the firefighters returned, they found the detached cottage completely destroyed.
Former Child Star Rory Callum Sykes Killed In L.A. Fires After His Mom Tried to Save Him https://t.co/86byAITJ04
— E! News (@enews) January 11, 2025The Los Angeles coroner has not yet listed Rory’s death among the 11 fire-related fatalities as his remains remain unrecovered. Firefighters informed Sykes that her son likely succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Devastated by her loss, Shelley Sykes said, “I wanted to spare my baby any pain.” Rory had been a familiar face on British television since 1998 and had appeared on his mother’s reality show “Get Syked with Style.” Shelley later described herself as a “player and philanthropist” on her website.
