Pushed past limits

Hi

A certain girl about her friend who was a soldier said: He was pushed past all human limits.

Another guy listening to her said: You know that to be a fact?"

She said: I know him. That's how he's built. Was he capable of violence, of killing? Sure. Was he a cold-blooded killer? No.

Does that probably mean: They expected from him much more than any human being could handle.(or maybe they were pressing him for something)

That's how he's built, I suppose it means: I know what he's like.

Thanks