Rory Sykes has died in the heartbreaking LA fires at 32, according to his mother. He was a motivational speaker, philanthropist, speaker, and consultant for organizations like the Tony Robbins Foundation and the Cerebral Palsy Alliance.
Rory Sykes was born blind and with cerebral palsy and was a child actor in the British and Australian TV shows Kiddy Kapers and Mornings with Kerri-Anne. He also co-founded the Happy Charity alongside his mother.
Rory Sykes passes away in LA fires
On Thursday, January 9, Shelley Sykes announced the death of her son, Rory Sykes, in a post on X. Rory was in his cottage in the family’s Mount Malibu TV Studio estate when the fire ignited. But when he and his mother attempted to evacuate the estate, they had difficulty reaching the emergency workers. Shelley Sykes recalled that she was unable to lift her son or put out the ashes that had fallen on the roof of the cottage because the local water district had switched off the water supply.
She also recalled that even though Rory Sykes insisted that she evacuated alone, she could not bear to leave her son unassisted. She drove immediately to the local fire stations to inform them and ask for help, but they also had no water. Despite Shelley’s efforts to save her son from the Los Angeles fire, she recounted, “When the fire department brought me back, his cottage was burnt to the ground.” Rory Sykes was said to have passed away from carbon monoxide poisoning instead of burning, according to the firefighters.
It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my beautiful son @Rorysykes to the Malibu fires yesterday. I’m totally heart broken. British born Australian living in America, a wonderful son, a gift born on mine & his grandmas birthday 29 July 92, Rory Callum… pic.twitter.com/X77xyk83gx
— Shelley Sykes (@shelleysykes) January 9, 2025
More on the LA fires
The Los Angeles fire continues to burn devastatingly, consuming houses, schools, churches, restaurants, and public properties amidst the intervention of firefighters, which has been for six days. Despite containing the fire, the crew still reports that more destruction may occur. Over 100,000 residents have been asked to evacuate their buildings while the death toll is on the rise.
The Palisades fire is 11 percent contained and the Eaton fire is 24 percent contained. Firefighters continue to intensify their efforts against the wildfire.