For ads-free news, click here.
From NBC Los Angeles: Former Australian child star Rory Sykes, who was born blind and had cerebral palsy, died Wednesday in the California wildfires after his mother said she was unable to save him from their home which was engulfed by flames.
“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,” Shelley Sykes wrote Thursday in a post on X, calling him “a wonderful son.”
Rory Sykes, 32, was born blind and had difficulty walking because of the cerebral palsy, his mother said. The actor, who starred in the late-’90s British TV show “Kiddy Kapers,” was living in a cottage on his family’s 17-acre Malibu estate.
Shelley Sykes said it burned down Wednesday in the Palisades Fire when she “couldn’t put out the cinders on his roof with a hose” because of a lack of water. The Palisades Fire broke out on Tuesday and has since expanded to more than 22,000 acres, destroying approximately 5,000 structures.
In an interview with Australian news outlet 10 News First, Shelley Sykes said she could not move or lift her son, as she has a broken arm. He told her to just leave him.
She drove to the local fire department for help, but they said there was no water to put out the fire. The fire department came back to the home with her, but by that time, Rory’s cottage had “burnt to the ground.”
The news report below includes an interview with Rory’s grieving mother:
Below is Shelley Sykes’ full message she posted on X, announcing her son’s death:
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.
@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. 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!
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
In another post, Sykes responded to a comment from Elon Musk, and wrote, “Elon yesterday I lost my son @rorysykes to the Malibu’s fires because Las Virgenes Water turned off the water supply to residents & to the Fire service at 5 am. He had cerebral palsy & couldn’t walk unaided. I couldn’t put out the cinders on his cottage roof. 50 brave fighter fighters couldn’t put out the smallest flame all day long! Our houses, the electricity poles just burnt to the ground & the fire just cleared the whole valley just like Palisade’s & Hawaii. Rory died needlessly due to the lack of water. Please can you help to stop this greed & inhumanity from this water municipality! Any recommendations welcome!”
Elon yesterday I lost my son @rorysykes to the Malibu’s fires because Las Virgenes Water turned off the water supply to residents & to the Fire service at 5 am. He had cerebral palsy & couldn’t walk unaided. I couldn’t put out the cinders on his cottage roof. 50 brave fighter… pic.twitter.com/SJ7QJHBF2c
— Shelley Sykes (@shelleysykes) January 9, 2025
My God. https://t.co/N9WOci2j9b
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) January 11, 2025
Follow us on X (Formerly Twitter.)
The DML News App: www.X.com/DMLNewsApp
The Dennis Michael Lynch Podcast archive is available below, with the most recent on top. Never miss an episode. Subscribe to the show by downloading The DML News App or go to Apple Podcasts.
