A rescue basket apparatus having at least one top rail extending longitudinally around the upper edge of the rescue basket defining an opening into the basket cavity, the rescue basket having a head end and a foot end, and at least two transverse crossbars affixed to the at least one top rail so as to extend down a first side, across a bottom and extending up a second side and affixed to the at least one top rail of the rescue basket. There are at least two bottom runner rails running longitudinally along the rescue basket bottom. There are two pairs of bridle attachment members spaced longitudinally apart relative to the top rail, each bridle attachment member has a bridle attachment receiving opening and the bridle attachment members are pivotally mounted to the transverse crossbars near and below the top rail. The bridle attachment members receiving opening extends inwardly into the rescue basket cavity. The bridle attachment members pivotal movement is confined to a partial rotation about the transverse crossbars. The rescue basket may be a single piece design, or a two piece split-apart type. The two piece split-apart rescue basket has locking connectors that make the basket easy to assemble and very ridged when connected into one piece. These connectors include a secondary safety latch that prevent any undesired disconnection.
