Fall off the horse, get straight back on. Falling off a mountain is slightly different. But try telling that to Niall Mickel.

The Glasgow-based lawyer, who narrowly escaped death in a climbing accident seven years ago, is currently gearing up to scale the formidable peaks of the Matterhorn and Eiger in the Alps for charity.

Mickel, 35, was climbing in Auchinstarry Quarry near Kilsyth when he fell 45ft, shattering his pelvis and suffering a fractured hip, shoulder, coccyx and torn ligaments. ''I was extremely lucky,'' he admits. ''I realise I could easily have died. What happened was hugely significant for me. It made me re-evaluate a lot of things in my life. I have certainly become a lot more circumspect in my outlook.''

Despite the lengthy road to recovery, Mickel was itching to get back out on the hills. ''It didn't put me off,'' he says. ''I definitely have a more cautious edge when I'm climbing now, but it didn't really cross my mind to give it up.''

A civil litigation lawyer specialising in childcare cases, Mickel has been climbing for more than 15 years. Tackling two of Europe's toughest mountains has long been an ambition.

''I have always had an adventurous streak,'' he says. ''I like getting out and having fun in the hills. Climbing is an important part of my life. My family, that and work are pretty much all I do.''

He hopes to raise money for both the Brittle Bones Society and Roshni, a charity that cares for ethnic minority children who are victims of abuse. ''Climbing can be a selfish pursuit,'' explains Mickel. ''It is nice to be able to give something back.''