An Ottawa-area woman and mother of two young children is dead after she fell when a glass panel on a balcony railing collapsed at a Mexican hotel as her husband was taking photos during their honeymoon.

Shannon Amy Guy, from Carleton Place, Ont., near Ottawa, was married to Paul Guy on Aug. 2. They travelled to a town near Tulum, Mexico, on Tuesday and were staying at the Oasis Tulum resort south of Cancun.

Paul Guy was taking photographs of his wife and another Canadian couple they had met at the resort when part of the balcony of the honeymoon suite they were leaning on collapsed, said Paul Guy's mother, Darlene Guy.

Paul Guy, left, was taking photos of his wife and another Canadian couple when a balcony railing collapsed. (Facebook)

Three fell to the ground. Shannon Amy Guy was killed and the couple they had met were injured. Paul Guy was also taken to hospital.

They had been transferred into the honeymoon suite, a friend told CBC News.

Mexican police said a similar incident at the same hotel killed a woman two years ago. CBC News has also learned the wing where the couple was staying had not passed safety requirements.

The wing, which includes eight rooms, is now closed for a safety inspection.

'He feels sorry because it wasn't him'

Darlene Guy said the couple had been living together for years before they married. Their two daughters are seven months old and three years old.

"I don't know what's going to happen," Darlene Guy said. "I can't believe that they're not going to see their mom. We still have to tell them. We haven't told them."

Darlene Guy said her son, who called from an intensive-care unit in Tulum to deliver the news two days ago, is distraught.

"He just kept saying, 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.' He feels sorry because it wasn't him," his mother said. "... He's crying so much that we can't make anything out."

Shannon Amy Guy had been on maternity leave from her job at Sinders Bridal House in Carleton Place, Ont., just southwest of Ottawa. She also studied community and justice services at Algonquin College in Ottawa and went to high school in Carleton Place.

Shannon Amy Guy, left, was killed when part of the balcony railing of her honeymoon suite in Tulum, Mexico, collapsed. She was honeymooning with her husband Paul Guy, who was injured. (Facebook)

Paul Guy works at The Brick furniture store in Carleton Place where his colleagues are collecting cards and donations for the family.

'She was a beautiful girl'

"She was a beautiful girl," Darlene Guy said. "She was kind, she was considerate, she was very very close to me and my husband. She was here twice a week and we'd see them so often. We'd take the kids.

"She was a happy person. She was always smiling."

In an emailed statement, a spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development said, "Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of the Canadian who passed away and the 2 other Canadians who were injured.

"Canadian consular officials in Mexico are in contact with local authorities to gather additional information and are providing consular assistance to those affected," the spokesman said.