A famous face has been confirmed as a victim of the terrifying wildfires raging through Los Angeles and turning celebrity homes into rubble.
Child actor Rory Sykes, originally from Australia, was trapped inside a self-contained cottage at a Malibu home when it burst into flames. The star, who was born blind and was later diagnosed with cerebral palsy, was left totally vulnerable to the fire.
The 32-year-old’s death was confirmed by his distraught mum Shelley, who’d tried in vain to stop the flames. She’d tried to hose down the fiery embers that were spreading on the property’s roof, but her heart was in her mouth as she realised the water supply was turned off.
The terrified mum then phoned 911, but was unable to make contact with them. Her only option was to drive a quarter of a mile searching for fire-fighters.
When she did find help, it was too late. Fire-fighters confirmed that her son had died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
It comes after the tragic star, who was born with physical adversity, “overcame so much with surgeries and therapies to regain his sight and to be able to learn how to walk”.
As a boy, Rory – who had an instant natural aptitude for acting – had also hosted the British RTV Show Kiddy Kapers back in 1998.
Yet his grieving mum told 10 News: “I couldn’t put out the cinders on his roof with a hose because the water was switched off.
“When the fire department brought me back, his cottage was burnt to the ground. He will be incredibly missed.”
So far, just eight per cent of the Palisades fire is said to have been contained – and most of the blaze continues to rage out of control.
It has attacked wealthy neighbourhoods, with properties owned by Paris Hilton and Anthony Hopkins among those to have turned to dust.
So far 11 people are known to have died, although the New York Post has reported that Syke’s passing is not yet part of the official death toll, and over 180,000 have been forced to flee their homes.
Authorities have announced mandatory evacuations from Sunset Boulevard north to Encino Reservoir and urged Californians to leave as quickly as possible to avoid further harm.
