Former Child Actor Rory Callum Sykes Dies at 32 in Malibu Wildfires from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Jan 11, 2025, 03:15 PM

Former Australian child actor Rory Callum Sykes, aged 32, died in the Los Angeles wildfires that ravaged his family's 17-acre estate in Malibu on January 8, 2025. Sykes, known for his role in the British show 'Kiddy Kapers,' was born blind with cerebral palsy and was unable to be rescued from his cottage due to the lack of water to extinguish the fire. His mother, Shelley Sykes, reported that she could not put out the cinders on his roof because the water supply was cut off by Las Virgenes Municipal Water District. Despite her efforts to seek help from the fire department, and despite the presence of 50 firefighters, Rory succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning. Shelley, who had a broken arm at the time, was unable to lift or move her son, who was also an inspirational speaker. The wildfires, which started on January 7, have resulted in at least 11 deaths and have forced the evacuation of thousands of residents.