Douglas Tompkins, co-founder of North Face dies in Chile accident

Santiago, Chile: Officials in Chile say wealthy U.S. businessman and environmental activist Douglas Tompkins has died from severe hypothermia in a kayaking accident.

The Aysten health service says the 72-year-old co-founder of The North Face and Esprit clothing companies was boating with five other foreigners Tuesday when their kayaks capsized in a lake in the Patagonia region of southern Chile.

It says Tompkins died in the intensive care unit of the hospital in Coyhaique, a town 1,700 kilometers (1,056 miles) south of Santiago.

Chile's army says strong waves on General Carrerra Lake caused the group's kayaks to capsize. It says a military patrol boat rescued three of the boaters and a helicopter lifted out the other three.