A patient lifting apparatus is provided and which is operative to lift an injured person or patient from a lower area to an elevated position where the patient or injured person can be easily and safely transferred to a stretcher or other support device. The patient lifting apparatus includes a pair of side sections that are interconnectable. Each side section includes a lifting device and a lifting bar which is movable up and down. In a connected mode, the two side sections are connected together and the lifting bars include attachments for attaching to a patient support. Once attached to the patient support, the lifting bars via the lifting device are operative to lift the patient support upwardly generally between the two side sections where the patient can be transferred to a stretcher or other structure.