Former Child Star and Motivational Speaker Rory Sykes Dies in L.A. Fires, Mother Says
Rory Sykes, a former child television star who later became a motivational speaker advocating for individuals with disabilities, has tragically lost his life in the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, as confirmed by his mother, Shelley Sykes. He was 32 years old.
Shelley announced on X (formerly Twitter) that Rory, who was born blind and lived with cerebral palsy, passed away at the family residence in Malibu on Wednesday.
“It is with profound sorrow that I must share the news of my beloved son @Rorysykes, who perished in the Malibu fires yesterday. My heart is shattered,” Shelley expressed on Thursday. “He triumphed over numerous challenges through surgeries and therapies to regain his sight and learn to walk. Despite his struggles, he remained passionate about exploring the world with me, from Africa to Antarctica. … His absence will be deeply felt.”
Rory was born on July 29, 1992, in the United Kingdom and relocated to Australia during his childhood, where he received his education. More recently, he moved to the United States, as reported by Australian news outlet 9 News.
Shelley mentioned that her son was residing in a cottage on their family’s 17-acre “Mount Malibu TV Studio estate” at the time of his death. She also informed Australian outlet 10 News First that fire officials indicated her son succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning.
“I was unable to extinguish the embers on his roof with a hose because the water supply was turned off. … Even the 50 courageous firefighters had no water throughout the day,” she recounted in her post on X. (The Associated Press reported that officials stated some fire hydrants in Los Angeles ran dry and experienced low pressure due to high demand.)
As a child, Rory made appearances on the British TV show Kiddy Kapers in 1998 and on the Australian TV show Mornings with Kerri-Anne in 2003. According to Rory’s website, he was also a philanthropist and a professional speaker and consultant for companies such as the Tony Robbins Foundation and the Cerebral Palsy Alliance. His mother said he also co-founded Happy Charity and was an avid gamer on RuneScape.
Since Tuesday, when the initial wildfire ignited in Pacific Palisades and subsequently spread to areas of Malibu and Santa Monica overnight, first responders throughout Los Angeles have been diligently working to manage the active wildfires occurring across the county, including the Eaton, Hurst, and Kenneth fires. The Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s Office reported on Friday that the death toll has risen to 11 individuals, although it remains uncertain whether Rory is included in this count.
As of Saturday afternoon, the Kenneth Fire was reported to be 80 percent contained; the Palisades Fire near the coastline was 11 percent contained; and the Eaton Fire was 15 percent contained. The Hurst Fire, located south of Santa Clarita, was 77 percent contained.
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