No one who has seen Danelle Ballengee can call women “the weaker sex”. She is a great athlete who accumulates challenges and victories. She runs marathons, winter triathlons and mountain races. In 1998, she finishes seventh in the New Zealand Ironman. In 2000, she climbs 55 peaks over 15,000 feet tall in 14 days, 14 hours and 49 minutes. In short, Danelle is an extraordinary woman, an unstoppable champion. And yet, she almost lost her life during a simple training session. She owes her life to her dog...

In the month of May 1902, agitation reigns in Saint-Pierre de la Martinique. Mount Pelee has awakened and despite the signs of an imminent eruption, the governor refuses to evacuate the city : in a few days, elections will be held, and he does not want to empty the city of its population. But the people of Saint-Pierre won’t get the opportunity to vote, since the city will be totally destroyed by the volcano. But Louis-Auguste Cyparis, who is languishing in his dungeon, will have his life saved. Surviving a volcanic eruption is no mean feat...

There are places on Earth where you should not get sick. But you can’t choose the day and time to have an attack of appendicitis ! Newly certified doctor Leonid Rogozov spent the winter of 1961 in the Antarctic. Far, far away from any medical assistance other than his own. Poor Leonid, he’d have to grit his teeth before cutting open his belly to take out that nasty infected appendix... it was a matter of life and death.