Heartbreaking Last Words of Brit Ex-Child Actor Who Died in LA Fires Revealed by Mum

A mother’s heartbreak has gripped the world as Shelley Sykes shared the devastating final words of her son, Rory Callum Sykes, who tragically died in the Malibu wildfires. The 32-year-old, who was blind and had cerebral palsy, passed away when his cottage on his mother’s estate was consumed by flames last Thursday.

Speaking through tears to Australia’s Network 10, Shelley revealed her son’s gut-wrenching last words. “He said, ‘Mum, leave me,’ and no mum can leave their kid. I couldn’t lift him. I couldn’t move him. He was my baby, and he died needlessly,” she said. Shelley’s broken arm left her unable to evacuate Rory, and when she attempted to call 911, the phone lines were down, as reported by the Daily Mail.

Desperate to save her son, Shelley drove to a nearby fire station but was met with yet another hurdle. “They had no water,” she recounted. By the time firefighters returned with her, Rory’s cottage had been reduced to ashes. He is believed to have died from carbon monoxide poisoning before the fire fully engulfed his home.

Rory, born in Britain in 1992, rose to fame as a child star on the TV show Kiddy Kapers. Despite the challenges of living with blindness and cerebral palsy, he became an inspirational speaker and co-founded the Happy Charity, an organization focused on bringing hope and happiness to those in need. Shelley described her son as a passionate individual who loved Apple products, admired Tim Cook, and was an avid RuneScape gamer, according to the Express.

In an emotional post on X, Shelley wrote, “It is with great sadness that I announce the death of my beautiful son Rory Sykes to the Malibu fires yesterday. Rory was a wonderful son, a gift born on my and his grandma’s birthday, July 29, 1992. He will be incredibly missed by me, his online fans, and his two beloved peacocks, Edgee and Mickie.”

The Malibu fires have devastated the Los Angeles area, destroying thousands of homes and claiming at least 16 lives. Firefighters face mounting challenges as strong winds are forecast to return this week, with Tuesday expected to be the most dangerous day. As the flames rage on, Rory’s story serves as a sobering reminder of the human toll behind these catastrophic events.