His mother had to leave him behind: Ex-child star dies in forest fires
Malibu - The devastating wildfires in Los Angeles have claimed another victim: Rory Callum Sykes (32†), former Australian child star, died when the fire engulfed the family's Malibu home.
The young actor was known for his role in the British TV show "Kiddy Kapers". From birth, he had to struggle with major challenges, as reported bythe New York Post.
His mother, author and presenter Shelley Sykes (62), described the harrowing circumstances under which her son died.
Born blind and diagnosed with cerebral palsy (a movement disorder), he overcame enormous hurdles through operations and therapies.
"Despite the pain, he always had big plans to travel the world, from Africa to Antarctica," Shelley Sykes wrote on social media.
On the evening of January 8, the situation got out of hand when the embers of the fire fell onto the roof of the family home.
Shelley Sykes had to leave her son behind
Shelley tried unsuccessfully to extinguish the flames with a water hose.
"The local water supplier had cut off our water supply," she later reported.
A dramatic battle against the flames began, but Rory was trapped in the house.
"Mom, go without me," were his last words. But Shelley couldn't tear herself away from her son. "I had a broken arm and couldn't move it," she says desperately.
The fire department finally arrived, but too late.
Rory died of carbon monoxide poisoning, as was later determined."I didn't want my baby to be in pain," the mother recalls.