Shelley Sykes, the mother of Rory Sykes who died in the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, has remembered her son as a “courageous” and “beautiful soul”.
Last week, the 32-year-old tragically died after the flames from the Palisades Fire engulfed his Malibu property.
Rory, who was born blind and was living with Cerebral Palsy, was living in a self-contained cottage on a 17-acre Mount Malibu TV Studio estate he shared with his mother when disaster struck.
Speaking to Channel 9’s Weekend Today, Shelley recalled that Rory’s feet began to swell when the heat from the fires began to settle in, making it hard for him to move.
“Rory’s feet with the heat had started to swell, and he couldn’t walk very well. He also had problems with his tummy. So he didn’t want to be far away from the bathroom,” she shared.
“So he said, ‘Mum, you go, I’m staying. Well, there’s no way I could leave.’
“So I stayed in the main property with my two peacocks in a bathroom because it was hard to breathe. Sitting on the floor with bottled water and trying to keep wet.”
However, one morning, she saw embers flickering on the roof of her son’s cottage. In a desperate attempt to save her son, Shelley grabbed a hose. However, no water came out.
“I had to race back to the house, try and open the massive garage door that had no power, lift it, get the car out and drive half a mile to the fire station,” Shelley continued.
“They said, ‘What are you doing? You’re not supposed to be here.’ And I said, ‘Please help Rory. His cottage has got flames on it and I’ve got no water.’
“They said, ‘Shelley, we’ve got no water either’.”
When Shelley returned to the property, his cottage was burned to the ground.
“When I got there, the three cottages were down to the ground and just black ash,” Shelley continued.
“My house was fine, the big main house, but there were embers flying everywhere and it was hard to breathe.”
On January 10, Shelley took to X to announce the passing of Rory, remembering him as a “wonderful son” and “a gift”.
“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
Following his death, Shelley is determined to keep the memory of her son alive, urging people to remember her son for all the obstacles he overcame despite being born blind and living with Cerebral Palsy.
“We need to let everybody know and inspire them that Rory was courageous and was a beautiful soul,” she told ABC News.
“I was in a car accident when I was pregnant, and so he was born blind. They said he’d never see or walk. And he defied that.
“No life should be forgotten. And his was definitely a special one.”
Reflecting on her son’s life, Shelley described Rory as a “compassionate” man who spent time fundraising for charities and often took part in motivational speaking.
She also described him as a “computer nerd”, which echoed in her initial announcement on X (formerly Twitter) where she revealed he loved the game RuneScape.
Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong confirmed that the Department Of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is in contact with Rory’s family and is providing them with consular assistance during this time.
“Our thoughts are with the family of Australian man Rory Sykes at this tragic time,” she wrote on X.
“We continue to engage with Los Angeles authorities, who are working to confirm his death.”
Our thoughts are with the family of Australian man Rory Sykes at this tragic time.
— Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) January 12, 2025
We continue to engage with Los Angeles authorities, who are working to confirm his death.
DFAT is in close contact with his family, and is providing consular assistance to them.
At the time of writing, the Los Angeles wildfire death toll has risen to 24, with CalFire reporting three active fires that have yet to be contained.
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