Douglas Tompkins , the U.S. co-founder of The North Face and Esprit clothing companies has died from severe hypothermia in a kayaking accident in Chile, authorities say.
The 72-year-old environmental activist had bought up large swaths of land in South America's Patagonia region to help keep them pristine.
The Aysen health service said the wealthy businessman was boating with five other foreigners on Tuesday when their kayaks capsized in a lake in the Patagonia region of southern Chile.
"For the environmental movement, not just in Chile but internationally, (Tompkins' death) is a huge loss," said Sara Larrain , a long-time friend of Tompkins who leads a Chilean environmental group.
