Former Child Star Dies at 32 After His Mom Was Unable to Save Him From L.A. Fires: ‘Totally Heartbroken'
Rory Callum Sykes, 32, died at his family’s estate in Malibu, Calif., on Jan. 8, his mother announced on social media
Rory Callum Sykes, 32, died at his family’s estate in Malibu, Calif., on Jan. 8, his mother announced on social media
Shelley Sykes/X Shelley and Rory Callum Sykes:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Rory-Callum-Sykes-LA-Fires-011124-03-0a62ab9e95bd4dbab91e347eccc9ccf9.jpg "Child actor dies in LA wildfire after devastated mum was unable to save star Former child star Rory Callum Sykes has died in the Los Angeles wildfires his devastated mum has revealed as she told how she was unable to put out the blaze")
A former child actor has been named among the victims who've died in the devastating Los Angeles wildfires.
Rory Callum Sykes, 32, who appeared in the British TV show Kiddy Kapers throughout the 1990s, died at his family’s home in Malibu, Calif., on Jan. 8, his mother Shelley Sykes announced in a post on X.
“It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my beautiful son @Rorysykes to the Malibu fires yesterday,” Shelley wrote on Thursday, Jan. 9, adding that she is “totally heartbroken” over her “wonderful son.”
The British-born actor, who was blind and had cerebral palsy, was living in Sydney, Australia, before recently relocating to the U.S. the Australian outlet Nine News reported.
He was staying in a cottage on his family’s 17-acre Malibu estate when he succumbed to the fires, his mother shared. “I couldn’t put out the cinders on his roof with a hose because the water was switched off by Las Virgenes Municipal Water. Even the 50 brave firefighters had no water all day," Shelley wrote. Rory Sykes/X Former child actor Rory died in the L.A. wildfires on Jan. 8
Before his untimely death, Rory’s mother shared that he “overcame so much with surgeries and therapies to regain his sight and to be able to learn to walk,” and was eager to travel the world “despite the pain.”
“He will be incredibly missed,” she concluded of her late son.
The former child actor’s death has not been officially included in the L.A. fires death toll, according to multiple reports.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Shelley tearfully shared with the Australian outlet 10 News First that she “couldn't stop the flames taking over” and that Rory’s cottage “was burned to the ground.” Rory Sykes/X Rory's mother announced her son's death on social media on Jan. 9
Related: L.A. Fires Live: 11 Dead, Officials Say, as Firefighters Make Slight Progress Towards Containment
She recalled trying to save her son but being stopped due to an injury she had. “He said, ‘Mom leave me’ and no mom can leave their kid. I’ve got a broken arm, I couldn’t lift him, I couldn’t move him,” Shelly told the outlet.
According to 10 News First, the fire department confirmed to Shelley that her son died from carbon monoxide poisoning in the wildfire.
PEOPLE has contacted the Malibu Fire Department for comment.
There have been at least 11 recorded deaths caused by the L.A. wildfires which broke out on Jan 7 as of Friday, Jan. 10, according to the County of L.A. Department of Medical Examiner.
