Rory Callum Sykes, a 32-year-old former Australian child actor with cerebral palsy, tragically lost his life in the Palisades Fire in Malibu, California. The unfortunate event occurred when the blaze consumed his family’s cottage, and his mother’s attempts to save him were thwarted due to a failure in the water supply and her own physical injuries.
Sykes perished on January 8, 2025, when flames ignited the roof of his cottage situated on his family’s 17-acre property. His mother, Shelley Sykes, a television production entrepreneur, attempted a rescue but was constrained by a broken arm and a malfunctioning water system.
Shelley Sykes shared the heartbreaking news on social media. “It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my beautiful son to the Malibu fires yesterday,” she stated. “He overcame so much with surgeries & therapies to regain his sight & to be able to learn to walk. Despite the pain, he still enthused about traveling the world with me from Africa to Antarctica.”
Due to swollen feet and the need for close proximity to a bathroom, Sykes decided to stay put in his cottage during the fire. His mother remained on the main property with her two peacocks, trying to stay wet while helplessly watching the embers land on her son’s roof.
Sykes, who was born blind and diagnosed with cerebral palsy, had surmounted numerous physical obstacles through surgeries and therapies. He was featured in episodes of the British television show “Kiddy Kapers,” hosted by his mother, and later became a philanthropist, investor, and developer. He co-founded the Happy Charity organization, aimed at providing “Hope, Happiness & Health to those that are Hurting.”
Fire authorities have attributed Sykes’ death to carbon monoxide poisoning. In recounting the harrowing final moments with her son, Shelley Sykes said, “He said ‘Mom leave me,’ and no mom can leave their kid,” her voice shaking with emotion. “I’ve got a broken arm; I couldn’t lift him; I couldn’t move him.”
She drove to the nearest fire station to seek assistance, but the cottage was reduced to “just black ash” by the time she returned. The entire property, home to Mount Malibu TV Studios, was completely ravaged by the fire.
The water crisis was the result of multiple infrastructure issues. The Santa Ynez Reservoir, a vital 117-million-gallon water storage facility, had been offline for almost a year due to cover repairs, causing critically low water pressure throughout the Palisades area.
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power reported an unprecedented demand, which was four times the normal levels for 15 consecutive hours. Many hydrants had minimal to no water flow, forcing the department to deploy 20 water tankers. The need to reload these tankers from distant locations severely impeded firefighting efforts.
Anthony Mitchell and his son Justin, both with disabilities, were among other victims unable to evacuate. The combined Palisades and Eaton fires have claimed at least 25 lives. Around 12,000 structures have been destroyed, and several people are still missing.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is offering consular assistance to the grieving Sykes family. Shelley Sykes has expressed her intentions to rebuild the property in her son’s memory as a sanctuary.