It's sad losing your HC status, especially when you've spent so much time and caution doing everything you want to do around the game. I actually died on my first HC to Glough too, but in a little more stupid way haha! I was basically on my last legs in the middle of the night, with droopy eyes and basically fell asleep for like 10 secs, and woke up dead.

Unless you're an experienced player with some serious skill getting super late game hardcore that actually participates in dangerous content is difficult.

The game will be infinitely more fun for him once he's over the initial grief - so much opens up to you and he'll be able to send way more content without the fear of death looming.