Former Australian child star Rory Sykes died aged 32 in Malibu Wildfire

Former Australian child actor Rory Sykes died in the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles. He was 32.

“It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my beautiful son @Rorysykes in the Malibu fires yesterday. I am totally heartbroken,” mother Rory, author Shelley Sykeswrote over X on Thursday, January 9. “(He was) an Australian born in Britain living in America, a wonderful son, a gift born on my and his grandmother’s birthday 29 July 92.”

Rory, who was best known for his child role in England Kiddy Capers series, lived in Los Angeles and worked as a humanitarian, author and motivational speaker. According to Shelley, 62, he had “his own cottage” on their family’s 17-acre property in Mount Malibu.

Shelley went on to note in her tribute to X that Rory’s house “burned down” on Wednesday 8 January in bushfires.

Related: Which stars were affected by the Los Angeles fires?

Los Angeles experienced a terrifying natural weather event – and its star community was heavily impacted. An extreme wind storm from Santa Ana gusts sparked fast-burning fires around 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, with drivers along Sunset Boulevard and Palisades Drive abandoning their cars to seek safety, according to (…)

“Couldn’t put the cinder on his roof with a hose because @LVMWD Las Virgenes Municipal Water shut off the water,” Shelley claimed. “Not even 50 brave firefighters had water all day! He will be incredibly missed by (his) mum, his pet peacocks Edgee & Mickie and all his online fans around the world!”

Chain fires caused by wind erupted on Tuesday, January 7, devastating buildings throughout the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles. Plus many locals left the city limits based on mandatory or voluntary evacuation orders.

“He said ‘Mommy, leave me,’ and no mom could leave her child. My arm is broken, I couldn’t pick him up, I couldn’t move him,” Shelley told a local Australian outlet. 10 Newssaying she was going to the local fire station for help. “When the firemen brought me back, his cabin was burned to the ground.

Related: Celebrities share personal photos of heartbreaking Los Angeles wildfires

As the wildfires continue to spread through the Los Angeles area, several celebrities are taking to social media to share how they’ve been affected. “Evacuated and safe with children, dog and cats. I am praying and thankful for the first responders,” Mandy Moore wrote in an Instagram Story statement on Wednesday, Jan. 8. In a subsequent post she (…)

Many celebrities they lost their homes to the fire, like Rory’s detached house on his family estate. According to the author’s obituary on social media, Rory’s cottage was “decorated with all the latest Apple gadgets”, which were also lost in the fire.

“(Rory) was a true humanitarian along with me as the founder of @happycharity. He saw himself as the #1 fan of @Apple & @tim_cook and most of all an avid @RuneScape player,” Shelley continued in her X statement, adding that her son was “born blind with cerebral palsy and had trouble walking”.

She continued: “He overcame so much with surgeries and therapies to regain his sight and learn to walk. Despite the pain, he was still excited to travel the world with me from Africa to Antarctica.’

Rory also overcame his disability to pursue a career as an author and motivational speaker.

“@rorysykes was a sought after motivational speaker for @TonyRobbins when he was just 8 years old,” added Shelley. “The @CallumsCure book first published by @simonschuster in Australia was about his courage.”

Check LAFD website for local fire warnings and click here for resources how to help the disabled.