Rescue basket

A method of performing a water rescue, comprising:

• providing a rescue basket on board of a helicopter;
• attaching the rescue basket to a cable associated with a hoist on the helicopter;
• lowering the rescue basket from the helicopter to one or more rescuees in the water;
• loading two rescuees into the rescue basket through an open end of the basket;
• sliding a crossbar along a frame of the basket to close the open end of the basket;
• and
• hoisting the rescue basket containing the two rescuees up and to the helicopter;
• wherein the rescue basket comprises a rigid structural frame having a substantially rectangular cage structure that includes an open first end, a closed second end, two sides, a bottom and an open top defining a basket cavity having an inside volume configured to hold two full sized individuals, the sides of the frame comprising one or more diagonal support tubes extending diagonally between the bottom perimeter of the frame and the top perimeter of the frame, each of the diagonal support tubes being attached to a corresponding vertical support tube extending from a first location at a mid-portion of each said diagonal support tube, the mid-portion disposed away from both the top perimeter and the bottom perimeter, to a second location at the bottom perimeter of the frame.