The family of a five-year-old girl who drowned while visiting a popular waterfall in Fiji has questioned why the trip went ahead despite dangerous weather conditions. 

Lilly Wal was swept away by strong currents at the Biauseva Waterfall in Sigatoka during a trip with her mother and siblings about 2pm on January 13. 

The little girl’s body was found near the popular swimming hole the following day. 

Her devastated family has since demanded to know why their trip to the waterfall wasn’t cancelled despite the torrential downpour on the day. 

Lilly’s cousin, Chiara Subek, said the holiday became ‘the most traumatic experience’.

‘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 the waterfall when it is raining,’ she told the Courier Mail. 

She claimed a young guide with no knowledge of the inherent risks of the waterfall had led the family to the popular swimming spot.

It’s understood the family was taken on a different track to other tourist groups. 

Another tour operator in the region said it had cancelled trips to the waterfall when there was ‘a lot of water’. 

‘We had heavy rain all that week, most people cancel when it’s that bad, this is the first time this has happened,’ it told the publication. 

Lilly’s family, who live in Brisbane, are now demanding justice for their ‘sweet’ girl. 

Ms Subek has called on Fijian authorities to ensure tourists are safe at popular hotspots ‘so no other family ever has to experience the same pain’. 

A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it is providing consular assistance to the family.

‘We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time,’ she said. 

‘Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment.’

Biausevu Waterfall is located on Fiji’s Coral Coast, near Sigatoka, on the main island of Viti Levu, about a 90‑minute drive south of Nadi. 

The waterfall is about 20metres high and drops in two tiers into a natural swimming pool, making it one of the top attractions in the area. 

Visitors must complete a guided rainforest walk of about 45 minutes, which includes multiple creek crossings. 

The trail is understood to be mostly flat but can be slippery after rain.