The Biausevu waterfall.Credit : Getty

NEED TO KNOW

A 5-year-old girl died after drowning at a popular waterfall
Nearly a month later, Lilly Wal’s cousin claimed the child’s death could have been avoided with proper “duty of care”
“What was meant to be a beautiful getaway for my aunt and her little family instead became the most traumatic experience,” the family member said

A 5-year-old girl drowned at a popular waterfall. Now, her family is demanding “change” and “accountability.”

Lilly Wal was visiting Biausevu Waterfall in Sigatoka, Fiji, with her family, who had traveled from Brisbane, when she was swept away by a strong current on Jan. 12, according to the Fiji Police Force.

Search efforts were initiated when Lilly was swept away, but they provided “negative results,” police said, as heavy rain and flood warnings created dangerous conditions.

The following day, on Jan. 13, the Fiji Police discovered the little girl’s body along the Biasevu River.

“The body of a 5-year-old child, who was swept away near the Biasavu Waterfall, has been recovered,” authorities wrote in a social media statement at the time.

Police added, “Sigatoka Forensics and Criminal Investigations Department (CID) personnel have uplifted the victim’s body and escorted her to the Sigatoka Hospital mortuary.”

The Biausevu waterfall.Getty

Nearly a month later, Lilly’s cousin, Chiara Subek, claimed the child’s death could have been avoided with proper “duty of care.” She said, “Staying silent allows this to happen again.”

“What was meant to be a beautiful getaway for my aunt and her little family instead became the most traumatic experience,” Subek wrote on Facebook, sharing a photo of her late cousin.

“My 5-year-old cousin Lilly Wal passed away in Fiji due to a complete failure in duty of care. The family was never properly briefed on the risks, never given safety warnings, and never told what to do if it started raining, despite locals later telling us that people are not supposed to go up to the waterfall when it is raining,” she continued.

“They were taken up regardless, with no preparation, no proper guidance, no clear safety protocols, and incredibly, a child who does not even work for the company, was sent to guide families with young children along this trail during unsafe conditions,” Subek added. “On top of this mess, the tour guide company involved [was] clearly more focused on money than safety, overcharging my aunty and pushing the experience through despite the risks.”

Subek went on to claim the company displayed a “shocking lack of accountability and compassion” following Lilly’s tragic death. She also clamined the village chief failed to reach out to their family or acknowledge what had happened.

“There was no proper response from local leadership or police,” she wrote. “There was also a complete lack of action from the police when the incident happened. Instead of supporting our family, they tried to blame my aunt for Lilly’s passing.”

“This investigation has not been taken seriously at all, and it truly feels like they are trying to brush it aside,” Subek added. “This is about duty of care, tourist safety, and protecting children and families. We want accountability, awareness, and change, so no other family ever has to experience this pain. We need justice for our sweet Lilly.”

It is not immediately clear which tour guide company was involved.