The Bachelorette Producers and Chris Harrison Speak Out on Tragic Death of Eric Hill

"We're all extremely saddened by this news. We enjoyed our time with Eric on the show," host Chris Harrison tells E! News of the ABC reality star's death

By Tierney Bricker Apr 23, 2014 8:08 PMTags
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The Bachelor family is mourning the loss of one of their own.

Eric Hill, a contestant who competed on Andi Dorfman's season of The Bachelorette, which is currently still filming, passed away on Wednesday morning due to injuries he suffered from a paragliding accident over the weekend. Now, the ABC reality series' team is paying tribute to Hill, 32, and remembering his "adventurous spirit."

"We're all extremely saddened by this news. We enjoyed our time with Eric on the show," host Chris Harrison tells E! News. "My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends at this difficult time. He will be missed."

The Bachelor's creative team echoed Harrison's sentiments, highlighting Hill's "passion" in a statement.

"We are deeply saddened to hear about the tragic passing of our friend, Eric Hill," the show's producers said. "Eric inspired us every day with his passion, his courage and his adventurous spirit, and for that we are very thankful. On behalf of our cast, crew and producers, we send our love, our thoughts and our prayers to Eric's family during this difficult time."

Brooks Forester, a former Bachelorette contestant, also spoke out on Hill's passing, telling E! News, "He was always on an adventure, always looking to build memories and meet new friends along the way. I'll miss having the opportunity to go on those adventures with him."

Hill was critically injured on Sunday when his parachute partially collapsed, sending him into a mountainside, according to reports.

After the accident, a source who works on the show told E! News that producers were still figuring out how to proceed. "This is really the first time something terrible has happened between time of filming and airing the season, so the network will have to figure out how to handle, and if it merits somehow editing the show differently."

Our thoughts are with Hill's family and friends at this difficult time.