He was not known in France, but Rory Sykes was a child star on Australian television in the 1990s. Based in California, the 32-year-old was killed in a fire at his Malibu house on Wednesday.
While the human toll from the Los Angeles fires rose to sixteen victims, the death of a famous person has been confirmed. In a message posted on her X account (formerly Twitter), Shelley Sykes announced the death of her son Rory Sykes in the fire that hit Malibu on January 8. A disappearance all the more dramatic as Shelley tried everything to save her disabled son from the flames.
The studio executive explained that Rory – a child star revealed on the British show “Kiddy Kapers” in the 1990s – lived in a cottage set on 6 hectares of garden, within the grounds of the television studio of Mount Malibu. A home which was unfortunately engulfed in flames on Wednesday. “I couldn’t put out the ashes on his roof with a hose because the water was cut off by the municipality. Even the 50 brave firefighters had no water all day. »
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Severely disabled, Rory was unable to leave his house. Born blind with cerebral palsy, the 32-year-old had difficulty walking. Present there, his mother Shelley tried to get him out despite a broken arm. “He said to me: ‘Mom, leave me,’” she told 10 News First with emotion. “No mother can abandon her child. »
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After trying to contact emergency services, Shelley Sykes went to the nearest fire station. But by the time he returned with help, it was too late, Rory died of carbon monoxide poisoning. “He will be greatly missed by his mom, his pet peacocks Edgee and Mickie, and all his online fans around the world,” added Shelley Sykes on X.
Fires continue to spread
Shelley recalled that her son, an Australian born in England, had courageously fought against his disability: “He overcame so many ordeals, surgeries and therapies, to regain his sight and be able to learn to walk. Despite the pain, he was still enthusiastic about traveling with me around the world, from Africa to Antarctica. » Rory Sykes founded the Happy Charity organization with his mother.
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Rory Sykes and his mother Shelley.
© Twitter/Shelley Sykes
The multiple fires that have been raging in Los Angeles for five days are extending to areas that have so far been spared, as reported by AFP on Sunday morning. Besieged by flames since Tuesday, the American megacity continues to count its dead: the toll, which so far showed 11 victims, increased on Saturday evening to reach 16 deaths.
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