Grim new development after Krystal Cain went missing in Queensland floodwaters three years ago
The family of a 14-year-old girl who went missing due to floods almost three years ago have been told by police that they may have found her remains.
On Sunday, members of the public found human bones at Boobyian near Gympie, about 2km from where Krystal Cain was last seen almost three years ago.
Krystal was swept from her father’s arms in January 2022 when they were unexpectedly hit by raging floods, the Gympie Times and Courier-Mail reported.
The teenager had been traveling with her father Lenny Cain from Echuca in Victoria to visit family in Queensland when the tragedy unfolded.
The pair were driving over a bridge in the middle of the night when it got stuck in a pothole, and they were hit by ‘raging rivers’ within minutes after ex-Cyclone Seth dumped 650mm of rain on the region.
Mr Cain tied an extension cord between them and they leaned against the driver’s side door for safety from the rushing water, but the car was suddenly swept off the road, taking the pair with it.
Mr Cain and his daughter were dragged several meters through the raging waters and were able to cling to tree branches, but the branches broke and were repeatedly thrown back into the dangerous current.
At one point, Mr. Cain was underwater and when he came back up, Krystal was gone.
Human remains have been found just 2km from where 14-year-old Krystal Cain (pictured) disappeared during heavy flooding in January 2022
She and her deceased, Lenny Cain (both pictured), were both caught in the floodwaters, but Mr Cain was able to get to safety
He was swept hundreds of meters downstream before crashing into another tree and being spotted by farmers who called rescue crews.
“I was devastated because I couldn’t see Krystal and the water was so violent, and I immediately feared the worst,” Mr Cain said.
“There’s just no way anyone could have survived that deluge.”
Authorities searched for Krystal for weeks after she went missing in the water, but she was never found.
Mr Cain told the Gympie Times he received a call from police telling him about the find.
He hoped the discovery meant he could bring his daughter home if the remains are hers.
Forensic officers searched the area where the remains were found and further searches were carried out to identify the human remains.