This season, ABC's "The Bachelorette" will face tragedy for the first time. Contestant Eric Hill recently died in a paragliding accident. Now, its creator is left figuring out how to continue the season with care and respect.

Mike Fleiss, creator of "The Bachelorette," said those involved with the show are grieving over the loss of Hill.

"We're all just devastated," he said in an interview with E! News. "He was such a vibrant, young dude. He was. It's tragic."

According to Us Weekly, Hill did not die while filming "The Bachelorette" as he was already eliminated by then. He did, however, go on the first one-on-one date with the Bachelorette, Andi Dorfman.

"He was such a young guy who lived life to the fullest," Fleiss said of Hill. "I couldn't believe it when I heard. I'm still in shock. We're all in shock. This transcends everything — certainly a television show."

Still, the show will go on. The trick, however, is being sensitive to those who were close to the late 30-year-old.

"We're going to try to be as sensitive as possible," Fleiss explained. "It's a bizarre predicament that we never expected to be in, but our problems aren't important. It's about his family now. My heart goes out to them. I pray for them and my staff — they're just wrecked."

Hill died last Wednesday, three days after the accident. His Facebook page, GO with Eric, The Global Odyssey, is now promoting the #LIVElikeERIC hashtag.

"Many of you have asked how you can help," Hill's mother wrote on the page on April 26. "The best gift you can give our family right now is to let our son touch your life through the stories and pictures he's left behind. Please take a moment to explore the many wonders Eric left for us to discover. #LIVElikeERIC."

"The Bachelorette" premieres on ABC May 19 at 9:30/8:30c.

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Follow Scharon Harding on Twitter: @SH____4.

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