Former child star Rory Sykes tragically passes away in California wildfires after mother’s heartbreaking confession: ‘I couldn’t move him’ |

An Australian former child star tragically lost his life when wildfires swept through his family’s Malibu home in California earlier this week, his mother revealed.
Rory Callum Sykes was at his family’s 17-acre Mount Malibu TV Studios estate, where he lived in his own cottage, when it was destroyed by fire on January 8, his mother, Shelley Sykes, shared on X Thursday.
Shelley Sykes remembered her son, who starred in the 1998 British TV show Kiddy Kapers, as a “beautiful” and “wonderful” person. She expressed being “totally heartbroken” over his tragic death.
Shelley shared that she attempted to extinguish the wildfire cinders on her property’s roof with a hose but was unable to because the water supply was not functioning.
She recounted that her son urged her to leave, but she couldn’t bring herself to abandon him. With a broken arm, she was unable to lift or move him, making the situation even more heartbreaking.
Shelley’s 32-year-old son, born blind with cerebral palsy on July 29, 1992, gained recognition for his inspiring speeches on overcoming disability. He co-founded Happy Charity, an organization dedicated to providing “Hope, Happiness & Health to those that are Hurting,” as described on its website.
“He overcame so much with surgeries and therapies to regain his sight and to be able to learn to walk. Despite the pain, he still enthused about traveling the world with me from Africa to Antarctica,” Shelley Sykes wrote on X. He was “a gift born on mine and his grandma’s birthday,” she wrote.
On his website, Sykes is described as a professional speaker and consultant who worked with various organizations, including the Tony Robbins Foundation and the Cerebral Palsy Alliance.
In a 2003 appearance on Mornings with Kerri-Anne, Rory Sykes discussed a U.S. trip to speak at a Tony Robbins conference, emphasizing resilience. Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed awareness of his death and is working with authorities to support his family, extending their condolences during this difficult time.