THIS is the moment the devastated mum of a former child actor who was tragically killed in Los Angeles wildfires broke down in tears.
Brit-born Rory Callum Sykes, 32, was left trapped inside a self-contained cottage in Malibu after it caught fire from flying embers.
Sykes’ death was confirmed by his mum Shelley who said he was a “wonderful” son.
In a message on social media, she described herself as “totally heartbroken” about the death of her “beautiful son”.
With a heavy heart and tears in her eyes, Ms Sykes told Channel Nine’s Today: “He was my baby. I’m just sad we couldn’t save him.”
Ms Sykes said her son “died needlessly” after getting trapped in the cottage.
The distressed mother shared that she attempted to extinguish the glowing bits that fell on the roof of their 17-acre land using a hose, but unfortunately, the water source had been shut off.
She was then forced to drive a quarter mile to find first responders after she reportedly failed to connect through 911.
Firefighters told her that Sykes died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
His tragic final words to her mum were: “Mum, you go, I’m staying,” before she left to call in more help.
Ms Sykes added: “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. There was nothing we could do.
Sykes was born blind and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
Ms Sykes said her son was a “very courageous man” who had overcome huge difficulties in his life.
“He overcame so much with surgeries and therapies to regain his sight and to be able to learn how to walk,” the mum said.
“They said he’d never see or walk, and he defied all the odds,” she added.
Sykes was a former child actor and hosted the British RTV Show Kiddy Kapers in 1998, NewsAU reports.
His tragic death will not be counted in the official death toll until his body his found, it is understood.
VICTIMS OF LA WILDFIRES
So far, at least 16 other people have died and thousands of homes have been destroyed.
The first victim of the hell fires to be identified was Victor Shaw, who was found still holding a garden hose outside his home.
Victor, 66, stayed behind as his sister, who he shared his house of 55 years with, desperately fled at the last minute to save her life.
Describing the events, Shari Shaw recounted how she hurried towards the front entrance as the flames from the Eaton Fire began encroaching on their property, as reported by KTLA.
She said Victor told her he would stay behind in a heartbreaking attempt to save his place from the murderous flames.
“Upon reentering and calling out his name, without receiving a response, and witnessing the large, swirling embers resembling a raging storm of fire, I had no choice but to evacuate in order to ensure my own safety,” Shari shared.
“And I looked behind me, and the house was starting to go up in flames, and I had to leave.”
Those close to the 66-year-old revealed he suffered from health issues that made moving difficult.
DAUGHTER’S AGONY
Amputee Anthony Mitchell, 67, was tragically found dead alongside his bedridden son Justin, who was in his early 20s after the Eaton Fire raged through their home.
The wheelchair-using great-grandfather of 10 lived in Altadena with his son, who lived with cerebral palsy, Anthony’s daughter Hajime White told The Washington Post.
Hajime, who lives in Arkansas, said that her retired salesman father desperately called her on Wednesday morning as the fires came ever closer to their family home.
“He said, ‘Baby, I’m just letting you know the fire’s broke out, and we’re going to have to evacuate,’” Hajime recounted.
“Then he said, ‘I’ve got to go — the fire’s in the yard.’”
Anthony also lived with his other son Jordan, also in his 20s, but Jordan was spared this horrifying fate as he was in hospital with an infection.
Hajime revealed she was told the heartwrenching news that Anthony and Justin did not survive the terror blaze.
“He was not going to leave his son behind. No matter what,” she said.
“It’s very hard. It’s like a ton of bricks just fell on me.”
FAMILY NIGHTMARE
The family of Rodney Nickerson, 83, described their horror ordeal when they found their beloved grandfather charred inside his house.
Rodney was discovered dead in his bed on Thursday after his Altadena home was reduced to rubble and ash.
The grandfather refused to evacuate his prized home, which he bought for $5 in 1968.
His daughter Kimiko Nickerson told CBS her harrowing story while standing outside her decimated lifelong home.
“We found his bones, his whole body was there, intact,” she said.
“This is the house that I came home to as a child and I’ve been here my whole life and I don’t know anywhere else other than here — myself and my brother and my son Chase and his other grandchildren.”
She described her family’s desperate plea to the 83-year-old to flee with them.
“My son tried to get him to leave and my neighbors and myself and he said he’ll be fine. ‘I’ll be here when you guys come back’ and he said his house would be here,” she added.
‘PERFECT NEIGHBOR’
Retired pharmacist Erliene Kelly was also killed by the wildfire in her Altadena home.
Erliene was adored by her neighbors, who called her “an angel,” according to the New York Times.
“That’s the perfect neighbor. When you see her, you have a smile,” neighbor Terry Pyburn said.
“It was panic. Everyone took off and no one thought to check on anybody,” Pyburn added.
“I think the notice came too late.”
‘War zone’ LA feels ‘broken’ as fires still ravage the city – but we will rebuild
The U.S. Sun’s Assistant Editor for Exclusives Katy Forrester is an LA resident and she witnessed first-hand the horror as flames engulfed the city. She said the city feels like a “war zone
EVERY year Los Angeles braces itself for wildfires. It is not uncommon to see flames torching the hills and even houses burning to the ground.
But many residents have never witnessed anything as devastating as this week. And it’s nowhere near over.
I spent time near Pacific Palisades, where thick smoke filled the air, and saw desperate families fleeing the city while others begged police to give them access to their properties as roads were blocked off.
“Everything is gone” was heard many times, as thousands of people were left homeless and with few possessions.
I was lucky to only have the power go out in my home, but I’ll never forget what I witnessed traveling throughout the city.
It was like a war zone.
During a visit to a shelter, I spoke with a resident who has lived in his home for almost 30 years and is battling cancer. He stayed long after he was told to pack up and go.
It was only when flames began leaping around his building that he finally gathered his belongings and ran out.
I reported from Altadena, where buildings were still engulfed in flames, and few fire trucks were in sight as emergency services were overwhelmed.
Cars and school buses were completely torched, and heartbroken families stood around in shock, not being able to process what had happened.
As the sun went down, I drove back home towards the city center, which I felt was safe, until I saw orange flames leaping behind buildings just minutes from my house.
I felt sick. I’ve never known wildfires so close to Hollywood, and suddenly, phones were blaring with emergency notifications to evacuate the area.
Traffic lights and street lamps were out, and areas filled with fallen trees from the strong winds became gridlocked.
I feel extremely lucky I live minutes outside of the evacuation zone, but friends panicked and fled their homes.
Although many worldwide will merely shrug when they hear wealthy people have lost their homes, the reality is very different.
The city as a whole feels broken, everyone from single mothers to elderly people have been through hell.
And people are angry.
Dozens have spoken of their insurance policies being canceled just months before the fires, while others are reeling over alleged corruption and mismanagement.
They may be angry. But they are also hopeful. The people of Los Angeles are made of strong stuff.
We will get through this. And we will rebuild.
