Walking on the sidewalk

Some days ago, while I was walking on the the sidewalk near my house, I saw a man was climbing up a ladder in front of his house. I realized that he was about to prune the hedge that surrounded the front yard of his house. By the time I walked past, balance and the ladder started to shake. I thought he was going to fall off the ladder and then I rushed back to attempt to help him. I didn't succeed in catching him, but I managed to hold his arm and his fall was more smoothly (or he fell more smoothly) He only had some bruises on his legs, but nothing serious.