Esprit Owner And North Face Outdoor Company Co-Founder Douglas Tompkins Dies In Kayaking Accident In Chile

Douglas Tompkins, owner of Esprit and Adventure brand and co-founder of North Face Outdoor Company died on Tuesday after a terrible kayaking accident.

The 72-year-old US billionaire died on Tuesday following a Kayaking accident in Southern Chile. Tompkins was reportedly boating with five other boaters when their kayak overturned into ice cold waters in Patagonia region of southern Chile, according to Hollywood Reporters.

Tompkins who suffered acute hypothermia after the kayak capsizing into near-freezing lake water was taken in a helicopter to a hospital in Coyhaique, a town about 1,056 miles south of Santiago. Though he was treated in the hospital's intensive care unit, died unfortunately on Tuesday, reported Venture Capital Post.

"He [Tompkins] had lost consciousness and wasn't breathing" said Dr. Carlos Salazar to the local television stations. According to Chile army's report the kayak overturned because of "strong waves on General Carrerra Lake" and three of the boaters were saved by military patrol boat while the other three were rescued by a helicopter.

Douglas Rainsford Tompkins was born to a decorator and an antiques dealer in Ohio on March 20, 1943. Spending first few years of his life in the New York City he moved to Millbrook, New York. Tompkins who started rock climbing as early as ten also mastered kayaking and skiing.  

Douglas Tompkins who was a conservationist spent large portion of his fortune in conserving the environment. The North Face noted in their statement that Douglas Tompkins was passionate about protecting the environment. "His legacy of conservation will help ensure that there are outdoor spaces to be explored for generations to come," noted The North Face.

 "Tompkins had been an outdoorsman all his life: a daring white-water kayaker; a skier with aspirations to compete in the Olympics; a serious mountain climber who once spent four weeks holed up in an ice cave with four buddies, waiting out an epic storm until they could finally blaze a new trail to the summit," Edward Humes wrote in 2009's "Eco Barons: The Dreamers, Schemers, and Millionaires Who Are Saving Our Planet."