Rory Callum Sykes sadly passed away despite the efforts of his mother, Shelley, to save him
Former child actor Rory Callum Sykes is among those who have died amid the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, his mother has announced.
The 32-year-old, who was blind and lived with cerebral palsy, tragically passed away after ferocious flames tore through the family’s property near Malibu.
His devastated mother, Shelley, has told how she desperately struggled to save her son and the property, but returned to find the 17-acre estate ‘burnt to the ground’.
British-born Rory, who moved to Australia as a child, defied the odds of doctors who said he would spend his life in a wheelchair unable to see.
Despite the challenges he faced due to his health issues, he went on to learn to walk, run and see – which saw Shelley pen a parenting book, Callum’s Cure, regarding her ‘miracle on legs’.
She explained that Rory had ‘overcome so much’ in his life, including undergoing ‘therapies to regain his sight and to be able to learn how to walk’.
Tragically, the child actor – who starred in the British RTV show Kiddy Kapers back in 1998 – succumbed to the effect of the fumes from the powerful Palisades Fire ravaging LA on Wednesday (8 January).
In a statement shared on Twitter, Shelley said that she was ‘totally heartbroken’ to lose her ‘wonderful son’ in such horrific circumstances.
She wrote: “It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my beautiful son Rory Sykes to the Malibu fires yesterday. I’m totally heartbroken.
“British born Australian living in America, a wonderful son, a gift born on mine & his grandmas birthday 29 July, 92.
“Despite the pain, he still enthused about traveling the world with me from Africa to Antarctica.”
She explained that Rory was living in his own self-contained cottage on their LA estate, which was ‘decked out with all the latest Apple gadgets’.
According to Shelley, she had desperately tried to douse the cinders she spotted on his roof with a hose, but the ‘water was switched off’.
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… pic.twitter.com/X77xyk83gx
— Shelley Sykes (@shelleysykes) January 9, 2025
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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…
During an interview with Australian outlet 10 News First, the mum said that her ‘baby had died needlessly’.
“All the phone lines were down,” Shelley said. “[Rory] said, ‘Mum, leave me’. No mum can leave their kid. I’ve got a broken arm, I couldn’t lift him, I couldn’t move him.”
The author said she drove a quarter of a mile through the thick plumes of smoke engulfing the area in a bid to find help as she was unable to reach 911 on the phone.
She claimed that after tracking down some emergency responders, she was then informed that they had ‘no water’.
“I said, ‘Oh my god, my son is locked in his room,” Shelley continued. “When the fire department brought me back, his cottage was burnt to the ground.”
According to Shelley, Rory passed away due to carbon monoxide poisoning, although cadaver dogs are still yet to locate his remains.
“I didn’t want any pain for my baby,” she emotionally added.
According to his mum, Rory’s death has not yet been recorded as part of the official death toll, The New York Post reported.
So far, the wildfires have claimed the lives of 11 people and officials have warned that this number will likely rise in the coming days.
Shelley has insisted that she is ‘not going to move’ despite her estate being devastated, while speaking of plans to restore the home.
“That’s going to be a special place for Rory and I,” she said. “We’ll make it even more beautiful than it already was.”
A spokesperson for Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told The West Australian it was providing consular assistance to a family impacted by the LA fires.
“Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment,” the statement read.
“The Consulate-General in Los Angeles is continuing to monitor the wildfires across California, including information on evacuation orders and warnings, as well as evacuation shelters.
“We encourage Australians to keep informed and stay safe by following the advice of local authorities and subscribe to Smartraveller for updates.”
