And back in Britain in 1943 it was her character rather than her skills or physical abilities that got her through her training in grenade throwing, silent killing and parachute jumping.

ECONOMIST: Nancy Wake

Faced with the edge of a cliff, according to media accounts, they would prefer jumping off with a homemade parachute made of bed sheets to finding another way safely down.

FORBES: Want To Succeed? Fail More, The Experts Say

In the 1990s, he moved from traditional skydiving to Base jumping, leaping off fixed objects and using a parachute to break the fall.

BBC: Profile: Skydiver Felix Baumgartner

Base jumping sees participants launch themselves from a surface and free fall from high altitudes before opening a parachute.

BBC: Mother's grief at base jump death of Gary Harbird

Base jumping sees participants launch themselves from a surface and free fall from predominantly low altitudes before opening a parachute.

BBC: Devon base jumper Gary Harbird dies in Switzerland