B.C. man in Mexico blast just married

Malcolm Johnson, 33, was one of seven people killed when the blast destroyed the lobby of the Grand Princess Riviera Hotel in Playa del Carmen,south of Cancun.

Five Canadians were killed and 18 people were injured in the explosion. The other Canadians who diedwere from Alberta, while many of the injured were from Ontario.

Lynda and William Huolt say their son had been married at the resort just three days earlier. He was in the lobby getting coffee for his wife, Heather Pynten, when the explosion occurred, while she and their one-year-old daughter, Audrey, waited elsewhere and were not hurt.

Johnson's mother told CBC News shelearned of her son's deathSunday when she called Canadian officials in Mexico.

"I tried the Mexican Consulate, and there was somebody there from Nanaimo and they had said that they had found him, and he was gone," she said.

B.C. tourist smelled gas

Mexican authorities say they suspect the explosion was caused by a buildupofgas from a nearby swamp.

Bella Coola, B.C., resident Ray Hern, who leftthe resort the day before the blast, said he smelled gas the whole time he was there.

"I commented to my friends several times during the week, smelling this septic smell and we just accepted the fact, 'Oh well, that's what the swamps smell like around here,'" he told CBC Radio on Monday morning.

"It was definitely methane," said Hern.

Family deals with loss

Malcolm Johnson grew up in Prince George, where his parents now live, but had lived in Nanaimo for the last 10 years and was a successful real estate agent with Coast Realty in Nanaimo, according to his colleague, Dan Johnson.

"He was full of life, he was really encouraging, he was just an amazing guy. As a realtor, attracting clients for life was his logo.I mean, that's why I sent people his way, because I knew for sure he would take care of them," said Johnson, who is not related to Malcolm Johnson.

Huolt said her son was a smart, successful man who loved life and his family.

"He just doted on them. Audrey was his pride and joy. He was a good dad. They waited seven years before they had her, and she was just his joy," he said.

"He got married on Nov. 10, and on the 13th they celebrated their daughter's first birthday and on the 14th he passed away,"Huolt said.

Huolt said they arewaiting for Johnson's wife anddaughter to return home with his body.

"It was just a tragic loss. I mean you don't expect your children to go ahead of you, but what do you do? You try to take one day at a time and hope that things get a little better, but right now, it's tough," she said.