PLEASANT VALLEY, California — It could have been catastrophic.

But it was a cat that reportedly led to a man’s rescue last week after he fell 30 feet over a seasonal waterfall, according to the El Dorado County Fire Protection District.

The incident occurred just after 9 p.m. on Feb. 21, the fire district says. Details on how the man fell over the waterfall into a creek drainage were not released, but CBS News reports the victim’s family soon noticed that he was missing.

Neighbors of the man, whose identity was not released, helped with the search when they noticed their cat was making noise, the Mountain Democrat reports. They followed their cat, who led them to the spot where the man had fallen.

Rescuers found the man in a few inches of water, the Mountain Democrat reports. The man was carried about 400 yards and he was flown by helicopter to Sutter Roseville Medical Center.

The man reportedly was seriously injured but there have been no updates on his condition.