Former child actor Rory Callum Sykes is among those who have died amid the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, his mother has announced.
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.
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, Rory passed away due to carbon monoxide poisoning, although cadaver dogs are still yet to locate his remains.
According to his mum, Rory’s death has not yet been recorded as part of the official death toll, The New York Post reported.
Rory Callum Sykes, a former child actor, has been named by his mother as one of the people who have perished in the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles.
The 32-year-old, who had cerebral palsy and was blind, tragically died when fierce flames destroyed the family’s home close to Malibu.
Shelley, his distraught mother, has described how she fought valiantly to save her son and the property but returned to discover the 17-acre estate “burnt to the ground.”.
Rory, who was born in Britain and immigrated to Australia as a child, disproved medical professionals’ predictions that he would live his entire life blind and in a wheelchair.
He overcame his health problems to learn to walk, run, and see. Shelley wrote a parenting book called Callum’s Cure about her “miracle on legs.”.
“He had ‘overcome so much’ in his life,” she explained, adding that he had undergone “therapies to regain his sight and to be able to learn how to walk.”.
On Wednesday, January 8, the child actor who had starred in the British RTV series Kiddy Kapers in 1998 tragically passed away due to the fumes from the powerful Palisades Fire that was destroying Los Angeles.
She was “totally heartbroken” to lose her “wonderful son” under such terrible circumstances, Shelley said in a statement posted on Twitter.
“I have to announce with deep sorrow that my lovely son Rory Sykes lost his life to the Malibu fires yesterday,” she wrote. I am utterly devastated.
Born in Australia and born in Britain, this amazing son was a gift on my and his grandmother’s birthday, July 29, 1992, and is currently residing in America.
“He was still excited about going around the world with me, from Africa to Antarctica, despite the pain. “.
Rory, she explained, was ‘decked out with all the latest Apple gadgets’ in his own separate cottage on their estate in Los Angeles.
Shelley claimed that the ‘water was switched off’ when she attempted in vain to use a hose to put out the cinders she saw on his roof.
The mother claimed that her “baby had died needlessly” in an interview with the Australian news organization 10 News First.
“All the phone lines were down,” Shelley stated. “‘Mum, leave me,’ said [Rory].”. No mother is able to abandon her child. I was unable to move or lift him because I had a broken arm. “..”.
The author claimed that after failing to call 911, she drove a quarter of a mile through the dense smoke plumes that were engulfing the area in an attempt to find assistance.
After locating a few emergency personnel, she said she was told they had “no water.”.
Shelley added, “I said, ‘Oh my god, my son is locked in his room.'”. His cottage was completely destroyed by fire when the fire department returned me. “.
Rory died of carbon monoxide poisoning, according to Shelley, but cadaver dogs have not yet found his remains.
She added an emotional “I didn’t want any pain for my baby.”.
Rory’s mother claims that his passing has not yet been included in the official death toll, according to The New York Post.
Eleven people have lost their lives to the wildfires thus far, and authorities have issued a warning that this number is expected to increase in the days ahead.
Although her estate has been devastated, Shelley has stated that she is “not going to move” despite plans to restore the house.
“Rory and I are going to have a special place there,” she remarked. “We’ll enhance its already stunning appearance even further. “..”.
A representative for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade informed The West Australian that a family affected by the fires in Los Angeles was receiving consular support.
We are unable to comment further due to our privacy obligations, the statement said.
“The Consulate-General in Los Angeles is keeping an eye on the wildfires throughout California, including information on evacuation shelters and orders and warnings.
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