Full face helmet endorsement - quick crash story

I've seen lots of threads here from people wondering if they should wear a full face helmet, if they will be judged, etc, etc. Just wanted to share my experience today with anyone searching the subject down the road.

I'm 40 and have never had a full face helmet. For a while felt I was invincible, and then felt I just simply wouldn't need it. But had a close call a few months ago where I just about headbutted a tree at speed, and had a quick flash of how that would likely end up - so bought a Leatt Enduro 2.0 convertible full face helmet. Super light, great breathability, and good for the technical trail riding I do (no DH), with the only complaint being it's harder to drink now.

Fast forward to this morning and I was doing a solo ride on a local trail network and decided to check out an unsanctioned black trail I hadn't ridden before. I made a mental note as I turned onto it that I'd take it easy and just turn around if it felt too sketchy. I ride very conservative when solo, taking the easier lines, etc.

I came up to what I could tell was going to be a quick descent down a rockface, which didn't look like anything unusual for these trails. As I came over the top I realized it was steeper and deeper than I thought, though still felt I had it in hand. I have no idea what happened, maybe I tapped my front brake, maybe my seat was too high, maybe I was out of position, but the next thing I know I'm going completely over the bars from the very top. Best I can tell, I then fell 8-10' straight down the entire thing and did a faceplant into the bottom, with my legs caught up n the bike, which came down on me. All I remember is the crack sound my helmet made as I hit the rocky ground, face first, followed by a searing pain in my chest and down my left arm. It was the hardest crash I've ever had, and took me a few minutes to be able to sit up and determine that all my limbs still worked.

In the end I'm scraped, bruised, and sore but with nothing broken. The helmet has some scuffs but nothing broke on it (replacement candidate anyway). I had a painful limp back home, but most importantly my head and face are fine, which is incredible given what my eyes witnessed.

Moral of the story is, if you're thinking about a full face helmet, get one! Mine likely saved the day for me, 1 month into owning it. I didn't feel like I was "sending it" or riding crazy, but went from a normal ride to a brutal crash in a split second.