Grim twist after Aussie is killed in Los Angeles wildfire - as his heartbroken mum breaks down in tears in emotional TV interview
An Australian who died in the Los Angeles wildfires cant be added to the official death toll until cadaver dogs are able to find his body.
An Australian who died in the Los Angeles wildfires cant be added to the official death toll until cadaver dogs are able to find his body.
Rory Callum Sykes, 32, died when his cottage on his mothers estate in Malibu burned down on Thursday.
He was born blind and with cerebral palsy and had difficulty walking, but had been able to lead a successful life and work as a motivational speaker.
His death came despite his mother Shelley Sykes desperate attempts to extinguish the fire with a garden hose.
He was my baby. Im just sad we couldnt save him, Ms Sykes said through tears on Channel Nines Today show on Sunday morning.
Mr Sykes was in his cottage on his mothers 17-acre Malibu estate when the property was engulfed by fire.
Rorys feet with the heat had started to swell, and he couldnt walk very well, Ms Sykes said.
And he also had problems with his tummy, so he didnt want to be far away from the bathroom, the distraught mother said.
Australian Rory Callum Sykes, 32, died when his cottage on his mothers estate in Malibu burned down on Thursday. He is pictured with his mum, Shelley
So he said, Mum, you go, Im staying. Well, theres 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.
She kept an eye on Rorys cottage, but then saw embers on the roof.
I couldnt put out the cinders on his roof with a hose because the water was switched off by Las Virgenes Municipal Water, she said.
Even the 50 brave firefighters had no water all day ... 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 (800m) to the fire station, she said.
Ms Sykes asked the firefighters to please help Rory
His cottage has got flames on it and Ive got no water, she said.
But they had to tell her that they had no water either, and when they got to the house it was too late to save Mr Sykes.
At least 11 people have been killed as catastrophic fires (pictured) continue to rage through Los Angeles and police carry out a series of arrests for looting and arson
There was nothing we could do, she said. When I got there, the three cottages were down to the ground and just black ash.
My house was fine, the big main house, but there were embers flying everywhere and it was hard to breathe.
Ms Sykes said her son was a very courageous man who had overcome huge difficulties in his life.
They said hed never see or walk, and he defied all the odds, she said.
The heartbroken mum said her son died needlessly after becoming trapped in the cottage.
He died with carbon monoxide poisoning rather than burning, I didnt want any pain for my baby, she told 10News.
On social media, Ms Sykes said she was totally heartbroken.
She said Rory was a wonderful son who overcame so much with surgeries and therapies to regain his sight and to be able to learn to walk.
Mr Sykes had appeared on Aussie television as a child, aiming to inspire others with his story.
Despite the pain, he still enthused about traveling the world with me from Africa to Antarctica.
At least 11 people have been killed as catastrophic fires continue to rage through Los Angeles and police carry out a series of arrests for looting and arson.
More than 10,000 structures have been burned down, with a total of 29,053 acres of land scorched in one of LAs most devastating ever disasters.