Former British-Australian child star Rory Callum Sykes is dead. The 32-year-old was a victim of the devastating wildfires in California.
As several US media reports, Sykes died in the flames on his family’s property in Malibu. His mother, author and former TV personality Shelley Sykes, shared the tragic news on X/Twitter: “It is with great sadness that I announce the death of my wonderful son Rory in the Malibu fires.”
His mother’s unsuccessful attempts to rescue him
As his mother writes, her son tried to fight the flames on the roof of his house with a water hose – unfortunately in vain because the water supply was switched off. Emergency call lines were also overloaded.
Sykes’ mother described the dramatic final hours: “He shouted, ‘Leave me here, Mum!’ but what mother could leave her child behind?” Her attempts to save her son failed. When she later returned with rescue workers, the house had already completely burned down and Rory Callum Sykes was dead.
Rory Callum Sykes: Difficult childhood
Rory Callum Sykes was born blind and with cerebral palsy. As a child, he had to undergo numerous operations and therapies that gave him back his sight and enabled him to walk. “Despite the pain, he was full of enthusiasm to travel the world with me – from Africa to Antarctica,” writes his mother. Sykes became known through the Australian television series “Kiddy Kapers”. He has been a successful video game streamer in recent years. Before moving to the United States, he lived in Sydney, Australia.
His mother’s entire statement:
It is with great sadness that I announce the death of my beloved son @Rorysykes in the Malibu fires yesterday. My heart is broken. The British-born Australian who lived in the US was a wonderful son and gift, born on my and his grandmother’s birthday, July 29, 1992: Rory Callum Sykes.
@rorysykes co-founded @happycharity, a true humanitarian organization, and considered himself @Apple and @tim_cook’s biggest fan. Above all, he was an avid @RuneScape player!
@rorysykes was born blind with cerebral palsy and had difficulty walking. He overcame so much through surgery and therapy to regain his sight and learn to walk. Despite the pain, he was full of enthusiasm to travel the world with me – from Africa to Antarctica.
@rorysykes was a sought-after motivational speaker for @TonyRobbins at just 8 years old. The book Callum’s Cure, first published by @simonschuster in Australia, tells of his courage.
@rorysykes had his own cottage on our 17 acre Mount Malibu TV Studio property, equipped with the latest Apple devices, which burned down in the Malibu Fires yesterday, January 8, 2024. I couldn’t put out the embers on his roof with a hose because the water from @LVMWD Las Virgenes Municipal Water was shut off. Even the 50 brave firefighters had no water all day!
He will be missed incredibly – by me, @shelleysykes, Mom, his pet peacocks Edgee and Mickie, and all his online fans around the world.
Fierce forest fires in the USA
Severe forest fires are currently raging in California. A total of 16 people are said to have died so far, and thousands of houses have already been destroyed – including the properties of numerous celebrities.