The mother of an Australian man living in California has revealed that her son is amongst those who’ve tragically died in the devastating Los Angeles wildfires.
Shelley Sykes took to X (formerly Twitter) to share that her 32-year-old son, Rory Sykes, was killed last Thursday after flames from the Los Angeles wildfires engulfed his Malibu cottage.
“It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my beautiful son @Rorysykes to the Malibu fires yesterday,” she penned.
“I’m totally heartbroken. British-born Australian living in America, a wonderful son, a gift born on mine & his grandma’s birthday 29 July 92, Rory Callum Sykes.”
It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my beautiful son @Rorysykes to the Malibu fires yesterday. I’m totally heart broken. British born Australian living in America, a wonderful son, a gift born on mine & his grandmas birthday 29 July 92, Rory Callum… pic.twitter.com/X77xyk83gx
— Shelley Sykes (@shelleysykes) January 9, 2025
Rory, who was born blind and living with Cerebral palsy, was staying on the property in a self-contained cottage when disaster struck.
Shelley said she tried to extinguish the flames that engulfed her son’s cottage. However, the water was “switched off”.
“[Rory] had his own cottage on our 17-acre Mount Malibu TV Studio estate, decked out with all the latest Apple gadgets, which burnt down yesterday 8 Jan 2024 Malibu Fires,” she continued in the X post.
“I couldn’t put out the cinders on his roof with a hose because the water was switched off by @LVMWD Las Virgenes Municipal Water. Even the 50 brave firefighters had no water all day!”
In an interview with 10 News First, Shelley explained that when she tried to contact 911– the emergency line for the US — for help, she couldn’t get through as the phone lines were down.
“He said ‘Mum, leave me’ and no mum could leave their kid,” she told the publication.
“I’ve got a broken arm, I couldn’t lift him, I couldn’t move him.”
After her calls failed, she drove 400 metres to her closest fire station for assistance, only to find out that there was no water.
“When the fire department brought me back, his cottage was burnt to the ground,” she continued.
At the time of writing, it is believed that Rory has not been counted in the official death toll for the Los Angeles wildfires as cadaver dogs would be needed to locate his remains.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has shared that they’re of the Australian’s death and that they “are engaging closely with local authorities” to help his family.
“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing consular assistance to his family. Our thoughts are with them,” a DFAT spokesperson told 9News.
“Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.”
According to US news outlet, NBC News, the death toll for the Los Angeles wildfires has risen to 13.
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