Rory Sykes, a former child TV star and adult motivational speaker known for sharing his experiences living with disabilities, tragically passed away due to the destructive Los Angeles wildfires. This heartbreaking news has been confirmed by his mother, Shelley Sykes. At the time of his death, he was only 32 years old.
On platform X (previously known as Twitter), Shelley announced that Rory, a person born blind and living with cerebral palsy, passed away at his family’s residence in Malibu on a Wednesday.
With deep sorrow, I must share that my beloved son, RorySykes, tragically lost his life in the Malibu fires on Wednesday. My heart is shattered. Despite numerous surgeries and therapies, he battled bravely to regain his sight and learn to walk again. Even amidst the pain, he found joy in exploring the world with me, from Africa to Antarctica. His absence will be profoundly felt.
Ever since I was born on the 29th of July, 1992, in the U.K., my life has taken me on quite a journey. As a kid, I found myself in Australia, where I completed my schooling. More recently, you might have heard that I’ve moved to the United States – news outlet 9 News reported it.
Shelley shared that her son was residing in a cottage on their 17-acre “Mount Malibu TV Studio property” when he passed away. She additionally disclosed to Australian news outlet 10 News First that fire officials stated his death was due to carbon monoxide poisoning.
She posted on X that she couldn’t extinguish the embers on his roof using a hose because the water supply was turned off. Not even 50 brave firefighters had access to water throughout the day,” she shared in her post on X, as reported by The Associated Press who mentioned that some L.A. hydrants were running dry and experiencing low pressure due to excessive demand.
With profound sorrow, I must share the tragic news about the loss of my beloved son, Rory Sykes, due to the Malibu fires yesterday. My heart is shattered beyond repair. Born on the shared birthday of his grandmother and me in Britain, he then became an Australian resident in America, a truly remarkable individual. Known as Rory Callum, he was a precious gift bestowed upon us on July 29, 1992.
— Shelley Sykes (@shelleysykes) January 9, 2025
In his youth, Rory had guest roles on the UK’s “Kiddy Kapers” in 1998 and Australia’s “Mornings with Kerri-Anne” in 2003. According to his personal site, he was not only a child prodigy but also a philanthropist, a motivational speaker, and consultant for organizations like the Tony Robbins Foundation and Cerebral Palsy Alliance. His mother mentioned that he was also one of the founders of Happy Charity and had a passion for video games, particularly RuneScape.
Starting on Tuesday, a wildfire ignited in Pacific Palisades that quickly moved towards Malibu and Santa Monica. Since then, emergency services throughout Los Angeles have been working non-stop to control multiple active fires springing up across the county, such as the Eaton, Hurst, and Kenneth fires. The death toll has now reached 11, according to the Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s Office on Friday. It’s uncertain if Rory is among those who have perished.
On Saturday afternoon, the Kenneth Fire was almost fully under control at 80%, while the Palisades Fire close to the coastline was only partially contained at 11%. Similarly, the Eaton Fire had a containment rate of 15%. Meanwhile, the Hurst Fire located south of Santa Clarita was more advanced in its control, with 77% of it contained.
Read More
- Crypto VC funding roundup: Riot snags over $594m, BVNK raises $50m
- PYTH PREDICTION. PYTH cryptocurrency
- 15 Charged for converting Drug Cartels’ Cash into Cryptocurrency in U.S.
- The Final ‘Gladiator II’ Trailer Has Arrived
- TROTOAR Gallery Bridges Local and Global Art with ‘That’s What’s Up!’
- OREO Unveils Six New Products for 2025
- XRP Price Eyes $2 Support Level Amidst Market Correction
- ‘Fast and Furious’ Star Paul Walker Remembered 11 Years After His Death
- Russell T Davies Says He “Kind Of Hopes” The Streaming Bubble Will “Pop”
- IMX PREDICTION. IMX cryptocurrency
2025-01-12 05:54