Rory Sykes Dies at 32 After Mom Was Unable to Save Him from L.A. Fires

An Australian man and former inspirational personality as a child is among the victims of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, his family says.

Rory Callum Sykes, 32, who appeared in the media as a boy talking about living with disabilities including cerebral palsy — and was even a motivational speaker for a time — died at his family’s home in Malibu, Calif., on Wednesday, Jan. 8, his mother, Shelley Sykes, announced in a post on X.

“It is with great sadness that I have to announce the death of my beautiful son @Rorysykes to the Malibu fires yesterday,” Shelley wrote on Thursday, Jan. 9, adding that she was “totally heartbroken” over her “wonderful son.”

The British-born Rory, who was born blind, according to his mom, had been living in Sydney, Australia, before recently relocating to the U.S., Australian outlet 9 News reported. 

He was staying in a cottage on his family’s 17-acre Malibu estate when he died, his mother wrote on X.

“I couldn’t put out the cinders on his roof with a hose because the water was switched off … Even the 50 brave firefighters had no water all day,” Shelley wrote. 

(Amid criticism about reports of lack of water, L.A. officials have said there was a temporary drop in water pressure and some water tanks ran dry due to “tremendous demand.”)

Before his death, Rory’ “overcame so much with surgeries and therapies to regain his sight and to be able to learn to walk” and was eager to travel the world “despite the pain,” wrote his mother, who also wrote a book about him.

“He will be incredibly missed,” she concluded of her late son.

More recently, Rory described himself as an avid gamer (of RuneScape) and as an investor and philanthropist. He started the organization Happy Charity with his mom to “help others.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Shelley tearfully shared with the Australian outlet 10 News First that she “couldn’t stop the flames taking over” and that Rory’s cottage “was burned to the ground.”

She recalled trying to save her son but being stopped due to an injury she had.

“He said, ‘Mom leave me’ and no mom can leave their kid. I’ve got a broken arm, I couldn’t lift him, I couldn’t move him,” Shelly said.

According to 10 News First, fire officials confirmed to Shelley that her son died from carbon monoxide poisoning.

There have been at least 11 fire-related deaths since the L.A. wildfires broke out on Tuesday, Jan 7, according to the L.A. County medical examiner. 

Further official details about the dead have not yet been released.

Australian officials confirmed that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade “was providing consular assistance to a family of an Australian man who may have been impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires” but they could not say more because of privacy, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

Click here to learn more about how to help the victims of the L.A. fires.