A 21-year-old St. Albert, Alta., man who died in Cancun last weekend, apparently after falling from a hotel balcony during a fight, is being described as a gentle, well-liked young man.

Chris Rogers, a University of Alberta engineering student, was vacationing at a resort in Cancun when he was killed. His death is being investigated by Canada's Foreign Affairs Department. (Twitter)

"He always struck me as a gentle soul, a very kind young man," said George Mentz, who was Chris Rogers's high school principal at Bellerose High School in St. Albert, north of Edmonton. "He had a lot of friends and he was a very pleasant student in the school."

Rogers was vacationing with friends at a Mexican resort when he was punched during the fight and later fell off the balcony, media reports said.

Rogers was completing his last year of an engineering degree at the University of Alberta, friends said.

Canada's Foreign Affairs Department is investigating the death.

"Our thoughts are with the family and friends of a Canadian Citizen who passed away in Mexico," department spokesman Ian Trites said in an email to CBC News.

"Canadian consular officials in Mexico are in contact with local authorities to gather additional information and are providing consular assistance to the family."

With files from the CBC's Marion Warnica