‘Leave me’: Tragic final moments of Aussie child star killed in Los Angeles wildfires

The mother of a former Australian child actor has revealed her son’s devastating final moments before flames engulfed their LA home.

The mother of a former Australian child star who died in Los Angeles’ wildfires has shared her son’s final moments. Picture: AFP

The mother of a former Australian child star who died in Los Angeles’ wildfires has revealed her son’s devastating final moments before flames tore through their Malibu home.

Rory Callum Sykes, who was born blind and with cerebral palsy, died inside his self-contained cottage on the Malibu estate on Wednesday.

The 32-year-old lived on the 17-acre property with his mother Shelley Sykes – a British-born Australian model.

As flames encroached, Ms Sykes said she made multiple calls to emergency line 911 but the phone lines were down.

“Guess what didn’t work? 911,” she told 10 News First.

Recalling her son’s final moments, Ms Skyes, who has a broken arm, said she was forced to leave Mr Skyes alone and drive to the nearest fire station to raise the alarm.

“He said ‘Mum, leave me’ and no mum could leave their kid,” she told the outlet.

“I’ve got a broken arm, I couldn’t lift him, I couldn’t move him.”

Shelley and Rory Sykes, 32. Picture: X

After driving 400 metres to the fire station, Ms Skyes was told there were no water reserves in local fire hydrants.

“They said, ‘We’ve got no water.’ And I said ‘Oh my God my son is locked in his room’,” Ms Sykes recalled.

By the time she returned to the estate with the fire department, Ms Skyes said her son’s “cottage was burned to the ground”.

“He died with carbon monoxide poisoning, rather than burning. I didn’t want any pain for my baby. … It was my baby, and he died needlessly.”

Ms Sykes earlier announced her son’s death in a post on social media on Friday, sharing she was “totally heart broken (sic)”.

She described Mr Skyes as “a wonderful son” who had “overcome so much” in his life before it was cut short.

“He overcame so much with surgeries and therapies to regain his sight and to be able to learn how to walk,” she wrote.

“Despite the pain, he was still enthused about travelling the world with me from Africa to Antarctica.”

Rory Sykes appeared on 'Kerri-Anne' as a child. Picture: YouTube

He had a short-lived career as a child actor and model. Picture: YouTube

Mr Skyes 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, he 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, he was an online gamer, philanthropist and public speaker.

Mr Skyes also co-founded the Happy Charity alongside his mother in 2005, fundraising for sick children globally.

Mr Skyes was born in West Yorkshire. Picture: X

He later went to school in NSW. Picture: X

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.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed it is providing consular assistance to Mr Sykes’ family.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the government continues “to engage with Los Angeles authorities, who are working to confirm his death”.

The Los Angeles mayor said there will be a “deep dive” into reported water shortages. Picture: David Swanson/AFP

NSW Premier Chris Minns has described Mr Sykes’ death as “every parent’s worst nightmare,” drawing comparisons to Australia’s own devastating bushfires.

“It’s a reminder that these natural disasters don’t pay any heed to who you are or where you come from,” he said on Sunday.

“I know many people in NSW who went through the Black Summer bushfires will remember how awful and traumatic those events were.”

“For the Sykes family to go through something similar, everyone in Australia I’m sure is very sad and concerned for their family and their wellbeing,” the premier said.

“I hope they get some peace in the months ahead.”

12,000 structures have been destroyed in the fires. Picture: Mario Tama/Getty Images/AFP

As of Monday afternoon AEDT, 24 people have been confirmed dead in Los Angeles’ wildfires – two of which remain out of control.

Authorities fear the death toll will climb higher over the coming week.

Almost 200,000 people have also been displaced, while around 12,000 structures and 35,000 acres of land have been destroyed.

– With NCA NewsWire

Originally published as ‘Leave me’: Tragic final moments of Aussie child star killed in Los Angeles wildfires