An upper body protector is configured to protect a person from compression trauma. The protector is formed with rigid protection elements and shoulder straps on the protection elements. In order to create one such upper body protector which offers not only especially high protection against compression of the upper body, but is also as comfortable to wear as possible and does not limit the freedom of movement of the carrier, the shoulder straps and the protection elements together form at least two cage elements of fiber-reinforced plastic material. The cage element are formed with at least one tubular body consisting of a fiber-reinforced plastic material, especially a carbon fiber reinforced plastic material.