Human remains confirmed as 14yo Krystal Cain, three years after she was swept away in Queensland floods

The family of a Victorian teenage girl washed away in floodwaters in Queensland almost three years ago are finally preparing to lay her to rest.

Krystal Cain was driving with her father Lenny to visit family in Agnes Water when their car was caught in fast moving water on the Burnett Highway near Gympie on January 8, 2022.

The pair escaped from the vehicle but became separated.

Mr Cain was rescued after clinging to a tree for six hours, but his 14-year-old daughter vanished.

The grief-stricken father said forensic testing this week had confirmed the remains found in the area six weeks ago are Krystal's.

"There's a lot of relief, there's a lot of sadness to know that it's being confirmed now that she's passed away," Mr Cain said.

Emergency services scoured 10 kilometres of rugged bushland and farming country for a fortnight after the incident before scaling back the search.

Mr Cain said pig hunters found skeletal remains of his daughter at Booubyjan, just 500 metres from the search zone.

"They called the police, then police then found Krystal's clothing," he said.

"Forensics were finding it a bit difficult to sort of get a positive identification, then they found the clothes and it all matched together."

'Quiet achiever's legacy

Mr Cain said he had begun planning his daughter's funeral which will be held in Bundaberg in January, almost three years to the day she was swept away.

"I think I'll have a feeling of contentment, satisfaction, and a lot of sadness," Mr Cain said.

The teenager's family has described her as a compassionate, bright, and bubbly girl who loved art and English at school, and a love of music.

Reflecting on his daughter's legacy, Mr Cain said Krystal's school near Ballarat had dedicated an academic award in her honour.

"She was never one to boast about her achievements, she was very much a child who was successful but in the background," Mr Cain said.

Mr Cain maintains his own memorial to his daughter at the tree the pair clung onto for six hours on that fateful night.

"I go there all the time, and that is where Krystal is," he said.

"I don't have a problem going out there tidying it up and making it look nice, like on her birthday, anniversaries and Christmas."

'Eagle's eyes' watching over

Mr Cain has thanked the community around Booubyjan and Goomeri for their support over the past three years.

"Some people go out there and actually leave toys or some sort of memorial there for Krystal and that comes from the Goomeri community as well," he said.

"I just cannot thank that community enough for everything they have done for me, they've just been absolutely amazing."

He said he takes comfort from seeing wedge-tailed eagles while driving in the area.

"Our mother's side of the family is Aboriginal and the eagle, which is called Bunjil, is an Aboriginal guiding spirit," he said.

"Every time I go for a drive I see an eagle.

Mr Cain said since the 2022 incident he had not been able to return to work due to the trauma and was struggling to make ends meet on a disability pension.

He said his family had started an online fundraiser to help support him.