Mexican authorities say a 16-year-old high school student from Southwestern Ontario died after her kayak was struck by a personal watercraft.

A spokeswoman for the attorney of justice's office says Camila Lopez was killed Saturday after a 16-year-old boy from London, England, rode into an area restricted for kayaks only.

The spokeswoman says the boy's family maintains the restricted kayak zone off the Now Jade Riviera hotel in Puerto Morelos, outside Cancun, was not clearly marked.

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She also says the family of the victim believes the hotel didn't deal with the accident adequately.

No one at the hotel was available for comment.

The British teen was released due to Mexican laws concerning minors.

Waterloo Catholic District School Board spokesman John Shewchuk says Camila attended St. Mary's High School in Kitchener, Ont., and would have been starting Grade 11 this September.

He says a social worker and school administrators will be at the school's chapel Wednesday to assist students and the community as they pay respects to Ms. Lopez.

The owner of a belly dancing studio in the city says Ms. Lopez had been taking classes for two years and was a "natural."

Joharah Kolishenco of BellyUp Dance Studios says Ms. Lopez was a rare find and would attend class twice a week.

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"Just a beautiful, beautiful girl. Very shy, quiet, unassuming," Ms. Kolishenco said. "A lovely dancer."

A Foreign Affairs spokeswoman says diplomats in Mexico are helping the girl's family.

"Our thoughts are with the friends and family of a Canadian citizen who passed away in Mexico," Emma Welford said in an e-mail.

"Canadian officials are in contact with local authorities and are providing consular assistance to the family. To protect the privacy of the individual concerned, further details on this case cannot be released."