An Australian man killed in devastating California wildfires can’t be added to the state’s official death toll until cadaver dogs locate his body.
Rory Callum Sykes was inside a cottage on his family’s Malibu estate as the Palisades fire broke out.
The 32-year-old, who lives with cerebral palsy, died after the blaze ripped through the area, his mother Shelly Sykes confirmed on social media.
At least 11 people have been killed since a series of wildfires began around the city of Los Angeles on Thursday, with more than 10,000 structures razed.
At least 13 further people are missing in the fires, Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna saying cadaver dogs are being used to find “remains and reunite families”.
Shelly Sykes said her son Rory ‘died needlessly’ after her water was cut off and she couldn’t contact emergency services. Picture: X
The death toll is expected to rise as officials conduct systematic grid searches with cadaver dogs.
Mr Sykes was living in a self-contained cottage on a Malibu estate with Dr Sykes, who said calling emergency line 911 didn’t work and instead drove 400m to her local fire station to get help for her son.
“When the fire department brought me back, his cottage was burned to the ground,” she told 10 News.
Dr Sykes said her son “died needlessly” after becoming trapped in the cottage.
Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass has pledged a ‘deep dive’ into the circumstances around the fire and reported water shortages. Picture: Eric Thayer/Getty Images/AFP
“He died with carbon monoxide poisoning rather than burning, I didn’t want any pain for my baby.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed it is providing consular assistance to Mr Sykes’ family.
Dr Sykes said her son, who was born blind and with cerebral palsy had “overcome so much” in his life before it was cut short on January 8.
“He overcame so much with surgeries and therapies to regain his sight and to be able to learn how to walk,” she wrote on social media.
Dr Sykes is the author of ‘Callum’s Cure: A Triumph of Positive Parenting,’ an autobiographical account of her experience raising Mr Sykes (pictured). Picture: X
Dr Sykes said her son died when the fire tore through their estate on Mount Malibu TV Studio estate, blaming the local Las Virgenes Municipal Water company.
“I couldn’t put out the cinders on his roof with a hose because the water was switched off,” she said.
“Even the 50 brave fire fighters had no water all day! He will be incredibly missed.”
Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass has pledged a “deep dive” into the circumstances around the fire and reported water shortages.
“We will look at what worked, we will look at what didn’t work and we will let you know,” she said.
Rory Callum Sykes appeared as a child on ‘Kerri-Anne’. Picture: YouTube
Rory was born in West Yorkshire, in the United Kingdom, and was educated at St Mary’s Cathedral College and Sydney Distance Education High School in New South Wales.
According to his website, Mr Sykes hosted British RTV Show Kiddy Kapers and later performed Singing in the Rain at the Sydney Opera House during a short-lived career as a child actor and model.
In later years, Mr Sykes was an online gamer, philanthropist and public speaker.
Dr Sykes is the author of “Callum’s Cure: A Triumph of Positive Parenting,” an autobiographical account of her experience raising Mr Sykes.