Dick Van Dyke was rescued from his Los Angeles home. (Image: Getty)
veteran Dick Van Dyke had to be evacuated from his Los Angeles home as through the area. The 99-year-old screen icon bravely faced down the flames that threatened his Malibu mansion last month and is still suffering from the fallout.
Sources close to Dick revealed that the trauma of the initial evacuation has left its mark, with fears lingering about the potential loss of his home.
When the first fires ravaged Malibu on December 10, the Mary Poppins actor attempted to combat the blaze himself, alongside his wife, Arlene Silver. Their efforts were hampered when they struggled with a tangled fire hose.
Recounting the harrowing experience to RadarOnline, Dick reflected on his desperate attempts to keep the fire at bay.
He said: “What I did was exhaust myself. I forgot how old I am, and I realised I was crawling to get out.”
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Dick Van Dyke and his wife Arlene attempted to put out the fire. (Image: Getty)
Dick explained that he had struggled to reach his car in an attempt to rescue his treasured belongings, but found himself too “exhausted” to get up from the floor.
His ordeal ended when three neighbours heroically evacuated him and tackled the flames themselves.
He said: “I was trying to crawl to the car. I had exhausted myself. I couldn’t get up. And three neighbours came and carried me out and came back and put out a little fire in the guest house and saved me.”
Despite the traumatic event, Dick celebrated his 99th birthday just days later, but insiders say he is still “shaken up”.
The Emmy Award-winning actor marked the milestone with an intimate family dinner with Arlene, 53, who he married in 2012.
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Dick Van Dyke is best known for his role in Mary Poppins. (Image: Getty)
It is understood that the star is now focused on reaching the milestone age of 100, reports .
A family insider shared: “Physically, Dick was fine but he is still shaken up; there is some post-traumatic stress coming from it. In a way, it was hard for him to face that at his age, he just can’t take on battling a fire, and his neighbours had to rescue him.
“Dick has made it his goal to see his 100th birthday, but it saddens him that more and more, he has to rely on others’ care. The hope is that once things calm down, he’ll be strong enough to savour what time he has left!”
Dick celebrated his 99th birthday last month – but has no plans to retire. (Image: Getty)
Last month, it was reported that for an upcoming role and is hoping to “get to work” over the next 12 months.
Speaking to NBCLA, he said: “I’d like to get a job.. I can play somebody’s grandfather on a sitcom or something, just to keep busy. And I’m not expensive.”
His wife Arlene then replied: “Yes you are!”