Abstract: A portable hydraulically operated rescue tool has a pair of force arms supported for pivotal movement adjacent inner ends and an hydraulic piston-cylinder assembly for pivoting the arms to move the outer end portions of the arms generally toward and away from each other between adjacent and spread apart positions. Spreader plate assemblies are releasably connected to the outer ends of the force arms. Each plate assembly includes a spreader plate connected to an associated force arm to pivot about an axis which extends transversely of the longitudinal axis of the arm and which is spaced longitudinally inwardly from the outer end of the arm. Each plate may be further supported to swivel about a central axis normal to its pivotal axis. One of the plates may have an arcuately concave contour for gripping engagement with a cylindrical member, such as the steering column of a motor vehicle.