The British-born Australian actor, who was born blind and lived with cerebral palsy, had been residing in a private cottage on the family’s 17-acre Mount Malibu TV Studio estate. The property was completely destroyed by the wildfire.
Shelley recounted the harrowing moments leading up to her son’s death. She explained that she attempted to extinguish embers on his cottage roof using a garden hose, but her efforts were futile due to the water supply being cut off. “Fifty brave firefighters had no water all day,” she lamented.
In a heartbreaking interview with Australia’s 10 News, Shelley shared her son’s final words: “He said, ‘Mum, leave me,’ but no mother could abandon their child. I’ve got a broken arm; I couldn’t lift him or move him.” She continued, “When the fire department brought me back, his cottage had been reduced to ashes.”
As of Saturday morning, officials confirmed at least 11 fatalities across the various wildfires raging through Los Angeles. More than 100,000 residents have been evacuated, with the evacuation zone extending overnight to include neighborhoods such as Brentwood and Encino as the flames continue to spread eastward into the Palisades.
