The fires in California have caused many tragedies, but Shelley Sykes shared one of the most heartbreaking tragedies on social media on Saturday.
Sykes is the mother of former film star Rory Sykes.
Rory, she explained, was born with cerebral palsy, was blind and had difficulty walking.
“He overcame so much through surgeries and therapies to regain his sight and be able to learn to walk.” she wrote in an article on X. “Despite the pain, he was still enthusiastic about traveling the world with me, from Africa to Antarctica.”
Rory Sykes died Jan. 8 in the fires, according to his mother. He was only 32 years old. And what makes his death especially heartbreaking is that Shelley says she tried to save her son.
She said Rory had her own cottage on their 17-acre estate in Malibu and when ashes rose on her roof, she was unable to put them out with a hose because the water was off.
“Even the 50 brave firefighters had no water all day!” » she added.
She said she couldn’t lift her son and carry him because she had a broken arm.
“He said, ‘Mom, leave me,’ and no mother can leave her child,” she told Australia’s 10 News First. “And I have a broken arm, I couldn’t lift it. I couldn’t move it.
Fans and followers were quick to send prayers and well wishes. You can see his post and their responses here.
Rory Sykes starred in the British television series “Kiddy Kapers” in 1998.
He also became a professional speaker and worked with the Tony Robbins Foundation and the Cerebral Palsy Alliance.
