CTV cameraman Hugh Haugland, who was killed in the crash, refused to miss a day's work despite injuries suffered in a recent cycling accident. (CTV/Canadian Press)

Two people were killed Wednesday when a helicopter crashed near the scene of the tornado that hit Mont-Laurier, Que., on Tuesday.

One of the victims was Hugh Haugland, 44, a cameraman for CTV National News and the son of former CTV Montreal anchor Bill Haugland.

The pilot, Roger Belanger, was the other victim. The resident of Mont-Laurier was described by friends as an experienced pilot who had logged more than 10,000 hours in the air.

Haugland was gathering aerial footage of tornado damage to the town, which is 180 kilometres north of Ottawa. The helicopter went down about 10 a.m. ET near Highway 117, just outside the town.

A witness to the crash said he believes the helicopter's engine failed.

André Marcoux said he was backing into his driveway when he heard strange engine sounds overhead. Marcoux said the helicopter swooped by his house before hitting a hydro pole and dropping to the ground next to the highway.

He said he saw a body lying close to the aircraft and ran to try to help, but a huge ball of fire engulfed the helicopter before he could get near it.

Station, family mourn

At CTV Montreal's studio, flags outside the building flew at half-mast as Haugland's colleagues mourned his death.

The station's veteran anchor, Mutsumi Takahashi, couldn't hide her emotions when she read the story of Haugland's death in her Wednesday newscast.

Haugland's father Bill, a household name in English Quebec because of his lengthy career, choked up as he said his son's death will leave "a hole in our hearts forever."

"Everybody's tearful and it's sort of like being hit with a club," he told The Canadian Press from his home in Vermont.

He described his son as a gifted cameraman who really "earned his stripes" by getting the difficult and sometimes dangerous shots.

CTV Montreal's director of news and public affairs, Jed Kahane, worked alongside Haugland for years. He said Haugland climbed into the helicopter on Wednesday morning wearing a cast on his wrist, refusing to miss a day of work despite several fractures he suffered last week in a cycling accident.

Kahane said Haugland always cared about the people he was filming.

"He wouldn't just say thanks and take off after he interviewed someone who was having a tough time," Kahane said.

"He'd stop and he'd do the right thing, which is care for people. And he did that for people here, and he did that for people he met everyday."

Haugland is survived by his daughters Evie, 19, and Lianne, 14.

With files from The Canadian Press