Michel Laplante says the toughest part about surviving a helicopter crash is getting through the grief of losing two friends.

"It's hard to balance between the joy of being alive and the sadness of losing two people like that," Laplante told a news conference Thursday afternoon, just days after the crash in Campbellton, N.B.

The president of the Quebec Capitales baseball team, who has dozens of stitches across his forehead and around his right eye, talked to the media for the first time today.

His friends Bob Bissonnette, a shareholder in the Capitales organization, and Frederick Décoste, the pilot, died in the crash.

"I am sad for the loss of those two people. Bob was a friend who I was very close to. It was a privilege to spend the last moments with him," Laplante said about the 35-year-old former hockey player turned rock musician. "He was always smiling."

The Capitales plan to organize a public event so that family, friends and fans can bid Bissonnette a proper farewell.

Laplante also knew the pilot well.

"Fred was, from the start to the end, very dedicated. He was so proud to be a pilot. He thought he was the luckiest man in the world to be able to fly a helicopter," Laplante said.

"I have no broken bones, not even a chipped tooth or a chipped nail, but my heart is deeply cut in two."

'Everything came in slow motion'

Laplante had spent the weekend with the pair. They were headed to Caraquet, N.B., on Sunday afternoon when, at around 4 p.m., the helicopter clipped some power lines, crashed into an embankment and fell in the river.

The cause of the crash is still unknown, but the Transportation Safety Board of Canada is investigating.

Laplante's memory about the crash is hazy.

"I just remember having so much fun — perfect day, perfect weekend. We gassed up in Charlo and went up in the air, just looking at a beautiful view. I put my cell down and dozed off. And boom — it just happened."

"Everything came in slow motion and then disappeared."

Laplante said he blacked out for what he believes was about 30 seconds. The next thing he remembers is being submerged in water.

"I have no idea what happened. I found myself on the top of a helicopter part … I was out in the water, freezing."

Some Good Samaritans who saw the helicopter crash into the Restigouche River ran over to look for survivors.

Michel Laplante rescued from the Restigouche River 0:43

"Somebody from New Brunswick said, 'What's your name?' I asked him, 'Am I dreaming?' He goes, 'You're not.... You just crashed. You're in the middle of a river. We gotta get you out of here.' And then they helped get me out of there," Laplante said, adding that they later visited him in hospital.

"There were extraordinary people around me, from the start to the end of the weekend. They are definitely very special."