He is alive today and is much wiser too. The other wasn't, and isn't. Rest his soul. He was tuning a sled, went for a quick rip in a field he knew like the back of his hand and never came back. I personally wear leather for this protection and also for protection from sharp snow crust.
Sharp crust can shred a nylon suit and anything in it.
Leather really helps protect you and is still good for the next incident. Leather should last you for years if you take care of it, so it's really not that expensive on a 6-10 year average.