Savannah Chrisley Recalls Being 'a Hot Mess' Telling Dad Todd About Nic Kerdiles' Death: They 'Were Best Friends'

"As hard as it was telling him that, I'm also so grateful that God allowed me to be the one to tell him so he didn't have to be alone when he heard the news," Savannah said of breaking the news to Todd

Savannah Chrisley is recalling the difficult moment she had to break the news to her father Todd Chrisley that Nic Kerdiles had died.

While reading her mother Julie Chrisley’s letters from federal prison during a new episode of her podcast, Unlocked with Savannah Chrisley, Savannah, 26, opened up about how she learned of her former fiancé’s death while on a flight to see Todd, 54, at the Pensacola Federal Prison Camp.

“When I was told that Nic got in an accident and didn't make it, I just fell apart on the plane, like there was no controlling it,” she said. “I was going to see Dad, and I got to be the one to tell him and Chase [Chrisley].”

Related: Savannah Chrisley Honors Late Ex Nic Kerdiles 1 Month After His Death: 'We All Miss You'

“I walked into that prison visiting room a hot mess, let me tell you, like just makeup all over my face,” Savannah continued. “I got makeup wipes out so I could just take it all off my face. But I walked in, and Dad just knew when he saw me."

"He was like, ‘What's wrong? What's wrong?’ and I couldn't get words out," she recalled. "I just said ‘Nic,’ and as hard as it was telling him that, I'm also so grateful that God allowed me to be the one to tell him so he didn't have to be alone when he heard the news.”

Kerdiles died on Sept. 23, 2023 at age 29 from injuries related to a motorcycle accident. According to WRKN News 2, the former professional hockey player hit the driver’s side of a BMW. Kerdiles was taken to a nearby hospital where he later died.

Kerdiles and Savannah began dating in November 2017 and later got engaged, however in July 2020, Savannah shared with PEOPLE that the engagement and wedding was off, explaining the two were “just trying to find our place in this world.”

In September of that same year, Savannah shared on Instagram that the couple had “decided to call it quits." She added at the time, "There's no hatred between the two of us... and in all honesty... that makes saying goodbye even harder. We have nothing but love, respect, and admiration for one another but it's time for us to move forward individually.”

Related: Savannah Chrisley Says Late Ex-Fiancé Nic Kerdiles Had 'a Huge Impact' on Her Life: 'You’ll Be Missed'

Elsewhere in this week’s episode of Unlocked, Savannah explained that Todd and Nic were “best friends,” which became a sore point.

“There was a rift between dad and I, because I felt like he chose Nic over me at times, and I'm like, 'I'm your daughter, choose me,'" she explained. “But now I'm so grateful that he chose Nic in so many difficult moments.”

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Since Kerdiles’ death, Savannah has paid tribute to him several times on Instagram, including a touching post in September 2023 expressing disbelief over his loss and gratitude for the time they shared.

"Just because some things don’t work out, or don’t last forever, doesn’t make them less special or less meaningful,” she wrote in the caption. “We learned how to love together. We learned how to be adults and entrepreneurs and professionals. We tried new foods, explored new cities, and created so many memories along the way. Our time in San Diego will always be unforgettable to me. It’s where we began… And I so badly wish I could hop on a flight and you be there waiting on me.”

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