Former child star Rory Callum Sykes dies in LA wildfires following mum’s tragic attempt to save him
Topics: US News, Celebrity, Weather, Environment
Rhiannon Ingle
Featured Image Credit: Channel 9/Apu Gomes/Getty Images
Topics: US News, Celebrity, Weather, Environment
Former child star, Rory Callum Sykes, has died in the Los Angeles wildfires following his mum’s tragic attempt to save him.
Rory, who was born blind and with cerebral palsy and best known for appearing on the 1990's Kiddy Kapers show, was at his family’s home in Malibu when he died at the age of 32.
Last week (9 January), his mother, Shelley, took to X to share the tragic news, writing: "It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my beautiful son @Rorysykes to the Malibu fires yesterday.
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"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."
Explaining more about her 'true humanitarian' son, the grieving mother continued: "@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."
Sharing some of Rory's milestone achievements throughout the years, including being a 'sought after' inspirational speaker and getting his book, Callum's Cure, published, Shelley explained his cottage on their '17-acre' estate burnt down on the 8th January.
"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," she carried on. "Even the 50 brave firefighters 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!"
Shelley also opened up about the heartbreaking situation to Australian outlet 10 News First, saying: "He died needlessly.
"He said 'Mum, leave me', and no mum can leave their kid."
"I couldn’t lift him," she added. "I couldn’t move him."
The fires in Los Angeles broke out last Tuesday (7 January), the death toll has now risen to 24, according to the coroner’s office.
The Los Angeles County coroner’s office said eight of the deaths were attributed to the Palisades fire and 16 resulted from the Eaton fire.
At least 16 people were missing and authorities said that number was expected to rise.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony C Marrone said 70 additional water trucks have now been dispatched to fire ravaged or at risk areas to prepare for the upcoming gusts of winds.