Doug Lidle had to find out that his son had died on Wednesday by watching television, according to an ESPN report.

The elder Lidle was watching television at a golf course snack bar with his friend Bobby Compton when news broke that a small plane had crashed into a New York City building.

"We were watching it on TV," Compton told ESPN, "not even thinking it could be Cory, because Doug thought Cory had already left."

Lisa Lidle, Doug's wife and Cory's mother, had just spoken to her son and was sure he was on his way home to California.

Compton and Doug Lidle parted ways, but when news spread that the plane may have belonged to Cory, Compton called his friend.

"Hey, Doug. Is it Cory's plane or not?" Compton recounted to ESPN.

"I don't know," Lidle replied. "I'm watching it."

That's when a television report confirmed that it was Cory's plane, and that's how Doug Lidle found out.

When Compton couldn't get through to his friend, he drove to his house, and found Doug and Lisa struggling with the loss of their son.

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"Doug's holding on," Compton told ESPN. "He's totally devastated. But that can be expected."

Compton told ESPN that Cory Lidle's wife Melanie, and their 6-year-old son Christopher had already left New York for California before the accident and were in transit when it happened.

Compton said a priest had planned to meet their flight when it landed in Los Angeles.

"She doesn't know," Compton told ESPN. "She's on a plane heading home. She has no clue."

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