Former Child Star Killed In L.A. Fires When Mom Can’t Save Him
The Los Angeles wildfire that has swept through California has destroyed many people’s homes. However, the L.A. fires have also caused deaths, and the total death count won’t be known for a long time as the authorities will have to search through the devastation to get the real totals. However, there has been one name that has been revealed – a former child star.
Here is who has died and what his mother said about the man’s passing.
Former Child Dies In L.A. Fires
Former child star Rory Callum Sykes died in the terrible L.A. fires that have destroyed so much of Los Angeles. He was 32, and his mother, Shelley Sykes, was unable to contact 911 or put out the fire herself before he died.
Rory, who starred on the British TV show Kiddy Kapers, died at the age of 32. Rory was born blind and with cerebral palsy, and he had difficulty walking. He lived in his own cottage on the family’s Malibu property. When the embers began to fall on his cottage, his mom tried to call 911 but couldn’t get through.
“He died needlessly,” Shelley said about her son’s death. “He said, ‘Mom, leave me.” She said she couldn’t lift him and couldn’t move him. The emergency services finally showed up, but the hydrants had no water. “The 50 brave firefighters had no water all day,” she said (via E Online).
Who Was Rory Callum Sykes?
Shelley Sykes said her son was always a fighter. “He overcame so much with surgeries & therapies to regain his sight & to be able to learn to walk,” Shelley said. “Despite the pain, he still enthused about traveling the world with me from Africa to Antarctica.”
Tony Robbins sought after Rory to be a motivational speaker when the boy was only eight. The book Callum’s Cure was about Rory’s courage and determination. Rory and his mother also recently founded the Happy Charity, where he was a humanitarian. “He will be incredibly missed,” Shelley said.
So far, there have been 16 reported deaths from the L.A. fires. Authorities say the numbers will rise over the next several weeks. There are also fears that some bodies won’t be recognizable and that fingerprinting and visual identification will not be possible for many.
BBC reports that many people died trying to defend their homes. While people were asked to evacuate for their safety, some felt they had to stay and protect their things. Two men, one 66 and the other 55, died and were found with water hoses. Loved ones said they refused to leave and demanded to fight the fires.
There was also the story of a 67-year-old amputee who died with his son, who had cerebral palsy. Another man, 83, died after he told his daughter the wildfire would pass him by.
Please help send your best wishes to the people still trying to survive the deadly L.A. fires in the comments below.
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