Kaylah Walton
A blind ex-actor from Australia, Rory Callum Sykes, tragically died in a fire that engulfed his family’s cabin in Malibu, as reported by The Post. His family was unable to combat the flames after their water supply ran out.
At just 32 years old, Rory, who had cerebral palsy, was featured in the British TV series “Kiddy Kapers”, a show hosted by his mother, author Shelley Sykes. He passed away on January 8 at their expansive 17-acre property.
In a heartfelt message on X, Shelley Sykes expressed her deep sorrow over the death of her son amid the Malibu fires. She reflected on Rory’s struggles and resilience, sharing how he fought to regain his sight and learn to walk. Despite his challenges, he enjoyed traveling the world with her.
The fire started when embers ignited the cabin’s roof, trapping Rory inside, as detailed by 10 News First.
In her distress, Shelley recounted trying to save her son but was unable to due to an injury. “He said, ‘Mom, leave me,’ but no mom can leave her son,” she tearfully explained. “I have a broken arm; I couldn’t lift it, I couldn’t move it.”
She attempted to extinguish the flames with a hose, but their water had been cut off by the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District, which compounded their dire situation. Additionally, Shelley praised the efforts of the “50 brave firefighters” battling the fire in a water-scarce area.
Shelley Sykes’ fight to save her son
Unable to contact emergency services due to issues with “911,” Shelley drove through smoke-filled roads to seek help. Tragically, by the time they reached the property, the cabin was already destroyed.
Although Rory’s death is distinct from the 11 fatalities officially reported by the Los Angeles coroner, it has since been confirmed that he succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning.
Shelley’s anguish was palpable as she mentioned, “I didn’t want any pain for my baby.”
Rory was a child actor and starred in ‘Kiddy Kapers’ back in 1998, as shared by NewsAU. The family estate also featured in Shelley Sykes’ reality television show “Get Syked with Style”, where she portrayed herself as a “player and philanthropist,” according to her website.
