Mom Tried to Save Son with Cerebral Palsy as L.A. Fires Drew Close, Now She Shares Heartbreak at What Went Wrong

Mom Tried to Save Son with Cerebral Palsy as L.A. Fires Drew Close, Now She Shares Heartbreak at What Went Wrong

Rory Callum Sykes’ feet had swelled up before the fires due to the high heat, making it difficult for him to walk or even put on shoes, his mom tells PEOPLE

Rory Callum Sykes died during the wildfires in Los Angeles on Jan. 8, according to his mom, Shelley Sykes
“He wanted to inspire people,” the mom says of the former inspirational personality
Now, she plans to have a special ceremony to honor her son and eventually open an orphanage where the family’s property once stood
A Malibu, Calif., mom is remembering her “very inspirational” son who died during the wildfires burning in the Los Angeles area.

Rory Callum Sykes, 32, died in a cottage on his family’s property after one of the fires reduced it to ashes, according to an announcement made by his mom, Shelley Sykes, on X.

The British-born man was born blind and with cerebral palsy and appeared in the media as a young boy talking about living with his disabilities. He recently relocated to the United States with his mom after living in Sydney.

Shelley, 62, tells PEOPLE she remembers her son as a “very loving, very logical but cheeky” man who had her “wrapped around his little finger.” She also says her son was thoughtful and inspired her and countless others.

“He always said, ‘It isn’t what happens to you in life that counts. It’s what you do about it that matters.’ ”

Fire conditions near Mount Malibu — the 17-acre estate that Shelley built especially for her son — began ramping up around 10:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Jan. 7, according to Shelley.

Around 3 a.m., the Happy Charity founder says she and her son were told to evacuate, but the pair stayed put.

About two hours later, the water had been turned off, and Shelley grew increasingly worried. “I kept popping my head out to see if Rory’s cottage was okay,” she recalls.

Rory’s feet swelled up before the fires due to the high heat, making it difficult for him to walk or even put on shoes. Shelley says he told her to “leave me” in his cottage and “sort yourself out” instead.

Shelley recalls telling her son at one point, “If it gets hot Rory, darling, or you feel uncomfortable, just sit in the shower,” which she said was made so a wheelchair could fit in it. “I said, ‘Just sit in the shower and keep the water in.’ ”