Shelley, grief-stricken, recounted her desperate efforts to save her son and their property, only to return and find their 17-acre estate reduced to ashes.
Rory, born in Britain and raised in Australia, defied medical odds throughout his life.
Shelley chronicled his remarkable journey in her parenting book, Callum’s Cure, referring to her son as a “miracle on legs.”
Rory, who gained fame as a child star on the British TV series Kiddy Kapers in 1998, tragically passed away on January 8th due to carbon monoxide poisoning caused by the massive Palisades Fire in Los Angeles.
Shelley shared to Twitter the heartbreaking news
“It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my beautiful son Rory Sykes to the Malibu fires yesterday. I’m totally heartbroken. British-born Australian living in America, a wonderful son, a gift born on mine and his grandma’s birthday, July 29, 1992. Despite the pain, he still enthused about traveling the world with me from Africa to Antarctica.”
Shelley explained that Rory lived in a separate cottage on their property, fully equipped with the latest Apple gadgets. When she noticed embers on his roof, she tried to extinguish them with a hose, only to find that their water supply had been cut off.
“[Rory] said, ‘Mum, leave me.’ No mum can leave their kid. I had a broken arm—I couldn’t lift him or move him.”
Unable to call 911, Shelley drove through thick smoke to find help.
When she located emergency personnel, she was told they had no water available. By the time firefighters brought her back, Rory’s cottage was completely destroyed.
Rory likely died of carbon monoxide poisoning
His remains have yet to be found. “I didn’t want any pain for my baby,” she said tearfully.
Despite the loss of her son and her home, Shelley remains determined to rebuild. “I’m not going to move,” she said. “That’s going to be a special place for Rory and me. We’ll make it even more beautiful than it already was.”
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it is providing support to Shelley’s family and monitoring the wildfire situation in California.
In their statement, they urged Australians in affected areas to stay informed and follow local authorities’ guidance for safety.
