Rory Sykes: Severely disabled former child star dies aged 32 in Los Angeles fires

Former child star Rory Sykes, known for starring in the 1990s series Kiddy Kapers, has died in the Los Angeles fires.

© Zuma Press/Bestimage Former child star Rory Sykes has died in the Los Angeles fires.

IN BRIEF

• Since January 7, Los Angeles has been plagued by violent fires, affecting celebrities such as Laeticia Hallyday and Kev Adams.
• Rory Sykes, former child star of 'Kiddy Kapers', died on January 8 in the fires, at the age of 32, at cause of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Discover how the Los Angeles wildfires changed lives, including Rory Sykes', in this heartbreaking article.

This is a tragedy that affects not only the United States, but also the entire world in the face of the terrifying images. Since Tuesday, January 7, the city of Los Angeles has been ravaged by flames. Many celebrities have spoken out about the horror they are experiencing there.

This is particularly the case for Laeticia Hallyday, who owns a house in the city, or Kev Adams who, for his part, was in Los Angeles during the fires. The actor immediately reassured his fans, calling on French-speaking people also there to contact him so that he could provide them with accommodation options.

Rory Sykes died in the Los Angeles fires

A Los Angeles County medical examiner announced Friday, January 10, that 11 people have died in the many fires ravaging Los Angeles. However, that figure did not include one victim, despite his fame: Rory Sykes.

The former child star, who played in the 1990s British TV series Kiddy Kapers, and who suffered from cerebral palsy and blindness, died this Wednesday in the Los Angeles fires. He was 32 years old. His mother testified on social media, announcing the death of her actor son.

Firefighters arrived too late at the former child star's home

Shelley Sykes, Rory Sykes' mother, wrote on social media: “It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my son @Rorysykes in the Malibu fires yesterday. My heart is broken,” she wrote this Thursday. She said her son died on the family's Malibu estate, while she “couldn't put out the ashes on his roof with a hose.” Indeed, the water had been cut off by Las Virgenes Municipal Water.

She also testified to Australia's 10 News First, and said she was unable to pull Rory out of the flames because of his broken arm. Her son was also struggling to walk due to his condition: “He said to me, 'Mummy, leave me. No mother can abandon her child,” she said in tears. She then rushed to the local fire station, since she couldn't get through to 9-1-1, but it was too late. Once there, the firefighters told her that Rory had died of carbon monoxide poisoning. May he rest in peace, as well as all the victims of the California wildfires.