A family mourning the loss of a teenager who was tragically swept away by floods almost three years ago can finally lay her to rest after her remains were found.
Krystal Cain, 14, from Victoria, was traveling with her father Lenny to visit family in Agnes Water, Queensland, when their vehicle became stuck in water on the Burnett Highway, near Gympie, on January 8, 2022.
The pair managed to escape from their submerged car before Krystal was eventually swept away after surviving for hours with her father clinging to tree branches.
The heartbroken father told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday evening that following forensic investigations, human remains discovered six weeks ago have now been confirmed to be Krystal’s.
The teenager’s body is now in a funeral home while her family makes arrangements for a fitting farewell on January 10 in Bundaberg.
“There is happiness, sadness and contentment,” Mr. Cain said.
“There are all kinds of mixed feelings at the moment.”
He said the discovery of her remains was bittersweet, but expressed relief that the family can finally give Krystal the send-off she deserves.
Krystal Cain, 14, (right) was traveling with her father Lenny (left) in January 2022 when their car was stranded by flooding
The ninth grade student (pictured) was pulled out of the car by her father, who tied an extension cord around them. They held on to one tree for six hours before the branches broke and they were swept to another tree. They were then swept to a third tree where the father was trapped underwater – and when he resurfaced, his daughter was gone
“That’s been the biggest thing for me over the years,” he said.
“I had a lot of jealousy, a lot of hatred toward people who could do something I couldn’t.”
When the year nine student went missing, 10 kilometers of farms and bushland were searched by emergency services for two weeks before efforts were scaled back.
Mr Cain said it was pig hunters who discovered the skeletal remains at Booubyjan, just 500 meters away from the original search area, in late October.
Krystal’s clothing was found by authorities, allowing the forensic team to match his daughter’s remains.
Mr Cain described Krystal as a “wonderful and kind-hearted girl” who was also a talented artist.
‘She loved English at school, she was very good at all her subjects, but she wasn’t one of those people who made herself big. She performed quietly,” said the proud father.
“When new kids came to school, she was the one who walked them around and spent time with them.
Krystal’s remains were found six weeks ago by pig hunters. The teenager is in the photo with her father
Krystal Cain (pictured) was a “kind-hearted,” “amazing” teenager and a talented artist
“Some of the children were less fortunate than us and had no food and she shared her lunch with them.”
Her school, near Ballarat, has an academic award named after her, the Krystal Cain Quiet Achievers Award.
After Krystal went missing, Mr Cain remained in Agnes Water thanks to the support of family and friends and ‘friendly locals’.
It was impossible for him to return to work after the harrowing loss, prompting his sister to start a company GoFundMe to help pay his medical bills.
“There are reports going around saying we were separated and that’s not true,” Mr Cain said.
“As the water rose, I got both of us out the window of the car and I had an extension cord that I managed to get hold of.
“I tied myself and Krystal together.
“I got Krystal in the tree and had a heart attack. I also broke my elbow in half, but I managed to get up and we stayed in the first tree for about six hours.’
The father’s right elbow never recovered. Mr Cain also suffered broken ribs.
Mr Cain said it was bittersweet news that the remains are Krystal’s, but is relieved he can finally give her the send-off she deserves (Krystal Cain photo)
Mr Cain created a memorial for his beloved daughter (pictured) on the site of the first tree that ‘saved’ them
The 56-year-old also had most of his teeth knocked out, a tooth lodged in his lung and at one point he was underwater for a minute and a half.
“What I went through was absolute hell,” he said.
By making Agnes Water his home, he feels close to Krystal and the father has created a memorial for his beloved daughter.
“I go to the site quite a bit,” he said.
‘I tidy it up, put fresh flowers there and make a path to the tree.
‘Because that tree was the first tree that saved our lives. And that’s where Krystal is, so that’s my place to go to spend time with her.”