Krystal Cain still missing at Booubyjan as human remains detection dogs join search

Human remains detection dogs have joined the hunt for a missing teenager from Echuca who hasn’t been seen since she was swept away in raging Queensland floodwaters.

The search for missing 14-year-old Krystal Cain from Echuca will be officially scaled back as human remains detection dogs join the quest to find her.

It comes as the search for the missing girl who was last seen swept away in raging floodwaters at Booubyjan on January 8, approaches its second week.

A Queensland Police spokesperson said the search party to find the young teen included police divers, officers on foot and horseback, ATV’s and drones, but there had been no sign of Krystal.

“Despite a thorough examination over the last thirteen days by Queensland Police divers, officers on foot, horseback, use of ATVs, aerial assets including drones, search crews have been unable to locate any sign of Krystal,” they said.

The party has searched a 10km radius of the area off the Burnett Highway at Booubyjan, where Krystal was last seen.

Last week, Krystal’s mother was also helping to search for her daughter.

Gympie Patrol Group Inspector and District Disaster co-ordinator Paul Algie told local reporters on January 13 that he would not rest until Krystal was found.

He said the area resembled a “war zone” littered with debris, livestock, and submerged cars.

14-year-old animal lover Krystal Cain.

Krystal Cain was with her father Lenny driving to visit family in Agnes Water on January 8 when they were caught in flood waters at Booubyjan, near Gympie.

Police believe the pair were in a Toyota Camry sedan and managed to get out of the car before it was swept away.

Though emergency services discovered Lenny, 40, clinging to a tree and rescued him, Krystal remains to be found.

The family used to live in Ballarat, and Lenny and Krystal now live in Echuca.

Krystal’s aunty Aundreau Cain said she got a call about Krystal’s disappearance on the Saturday from her sister in law and set up an online fundraiser that called the teenager “a bright soul with the world at her finger tips” and “a loving daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece and friend”.

“Obviously we went into a state of shock and we didn’t know what to do or say,” Aundreau said, “so I said to my husband, us being in Townsville, the best thing we can do it create a GoFundMe page.”

Krystal’s aunty said Krystal had “a passion for all animals”.

She went on to describe her niece: “When you first meet Krystal she’s a very, very quiet girl, but once she opens up to you she wraps you in warmth and emotion and love.

“She’s happy-go-lucky, loves everybody, loves life, has a passion for all animals: she’ll hold a spider, she loves cockatoos, dogs, cats – she’s an animal lover through and through.

“She is a really good artist with both graphite sketching as well as everything anime. We were speaking to her last at Christmas she indicated that she wanted to become an anime artist.

“She’s just a warm beautiful soul, loves cooking, loves being with her aunty at Christmas time, learning new recipes, learning how to use piping bags.”

The online page has raised $4700 so far, which will go towards search efforts, trauma counselling for Krystal’s family, and if necessary, a funeral.

Krystal’s mum Sarah has been at the site helping scour the area, Aundreau said, which Gympie police on Thursday recommended the public stay away from, some areas being 10m under water and too dangerous.

“I’m a mother myself and I can’t even imagine what it would feel like,” Aundreau said.

“I can empathise, but it won’t be anything close to what they’re [Sarah and Lenny] going through.”

Krystal with her aunty Trina at Christmas 2021.

Lenny is now out of Bundaberg Hospital and in Agnes Waters recuperating.

“He did have a heart attack while in hospital,” Aundreau said.

“He had a severe chest infection from being in the water for so long, and he has pneumonia.

“They released Lenny I believe about two days ago [January 10] due to the fear of Covid and him being impacted by that.”

Aundreau thanked everybody who had helped with the search or given money to the fundraiser.