An Australian man who was an inspirational figure as a child is among the victims of the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, according to his family.

Rory Sykes, 32, who appeared in the media as a boy speaking about life with disabilities, including cerebral palsy – and was even a motivational speaker for a time – died on Wednesday, January 8, at his family’s home in Malibu, California . His mother Shelley Sykes announced this in a post on X.

“It is with great sadness that I announce yesterday the passing of my beautiful son @Rorysykes in the Malibu fires,” Shelley wrote on Thursday, January 9, adding that she was “completely heartbroken” over her “wonderful son.” .

British-born Rory, who was born blind according to his mother, lived in Sydney, Australia before recently moving to the United States, Australian news outlet 9 News reported.

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

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

(Amid criticism of reports of water shortages, L.A. officials said water pressure had temporarily dropped and some water tanks were empty due to “high demand.”)

Before his death, Rory had “overcome so many surgeries and therapies to regain his sight and learn to walk” and was determined to travel the world “despite the pain,” wrote his mother, who also wrote a book about him.

“We will miss him incredibly,” she concluded of her late son.

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

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Shelley tearfully shared this with the Australian outlet 10 messages first that she “couldn’t stop the flames” and that Rory’s cottage “burned to the ground.”

She recalled trying to save her son but being prevented from doing so due to an injury.

“He said, ‘Mom, leave me,’ and no mother can leave her child. I have a broken arm, I couldn’t lift it, I couldn’t move it,” Shelly said.

Accordingly 10 messages firstFire officials confirmed to Shelley that her son died of carbon monoxide poisoning.

There have been at least 11 fire-related deaths since the wildfires began in Los Angeles on Tuesday, January 7, according to the LA County coroner.

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

Australian officials confirmed that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade “provided consular assistance to the family of an Australian who may have been affected by the Los Angeles wildfires” but could not say more for privacy reasons, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

Click here to learn more about how you can help victims of the LA fires.