Douglas Tompkins, 72, co-founder of outerwear company The North Face  died on Tuesday, December 8.  The later turned conservationist succumbed to hypothermia after his kayak capsized in the freezing waters of Patagonia, Chile.

Tompkins and five of his long-time friends had planned a 30 km kayak trip. Strong winds and turbulent waves caused Tompkins’ and his companions’ kayak to capsize. Unable turn their kayak around, Tompkins and his friend “held on to their boat while the other members of their group attempted to coordinate a rescue.”

“Chile’s army said there were strong waves at the time, which caused the boats to flip,” the Associated Press reported. Tompkins was in the freezing water for over an hour before being rescued. He was then transported to Coyhaique Regional Hospital, where he later died from severe hypothermia.  His five friends were able to escape the waters unharmed.

Ever since an early age, Tompkins was always looking for adventure. He never attended college, opting instead to go on an adventure that led him to start North Face with his first wife Susie Buell. The company’s mantra, fittingly, is “never stop exploring.”

Tompkins then decided to focus his energy on nature and conservationism. Tompkins and his second wife, Kris Tompkins, the former CEO of Patagonia outdoor clothing company, moved to South America in the 1990s.

Tompkins and his wife bought over two million acres in the Patagonia region in Chile and Argentina and turned it into conserved land. Tompkins also used his fortune to buy approximately 2.2 million acres, including Pumalín Park, protecting 715,000 acres of rainforest from the Pacific Ocean to the Andes.

During his lifetime, Tompkins won several accolades for his efforts to conserve nature. The African Rainforest Conservancy awarded him and his wife its New Species Award in 2007, In 2009, the American Alpine Club honored him with the David R. Brower Award for his work in preserving mountain regions.

Douglas Tompkins stayed true to his company’s mantra until the end, as he never stopped exploring. Following his death, the Chilean government announced that Pumalín Park will become a national park in March 2017.