A disabled Australian man has been killed after his cottage was razed in the LA fires - despite his mother's desperate attempts to extinguish the fire with a garden hose. Rory Callum Sykes, 32, died when his cottage on his mother's estate in Malibu burned down on Thursday.
Mr Sykes was born blind with cerebral palsy. He had difficulty walking and worked as a motivational speaker. She described Mr Sykes, a British-born Australian citizen, as a 'wonderful son' who 'overcame so much with surgeries and therapies to regain his sight and to be able to learn to walk'. Mr Sykes had his own cottage on his mother's acre Malibu estate when the property was engulfed by fire on Thursday.
Mr Sykes had appeared on Aussie television as a child, aiming to inspire others with his story. Ms Sykes tried to get help as the fire approached but her calls didn't connect to emergency services. She was forced to leave her son, driving metres through the smoke to the local fire station. At the fire station she was told crews had no water - and when firefighters brought her home, her son's cottage was burnt to the ground.
At least 11 people have been killed as catastrophic fires rage through Los Angeles into a fifth day and police carry out a series of looting and arson arrests. As of Saturday, over 10, structures have been burned down, with a total of 29, acres of land scorched in one of Los Angeles' most horrific disasters to date. Gibson, 69, discovered his house had been consumed by fire while recording an episode on Joe Rogan's podcast on Friday. After learning that his house was about to be destroyed the actor said he rushed back to the Malibu mansion with his son to grab whatever they could before it all turned to ash.
He said the pair only escaped with their passports and a few other important documents while his artworks and books, some of which were from the 16th century and priceless, were destroyed in the flames. Gibson said he knew his house was a goner after he was warned it was in the direct path of the fire but that it was still shocking to see the wreckage left behind.
