Abstract: A life-saving basket and equipment handling device having a plurality of parallel horizontal frame elements connected to at least two U-shaped hoops arranged in planes perpendicular to the planes of the frame elements to form mesh sides of the basket, the bottom of the basket being provided with longitudinal elements forming supports. Each hoop is connected to each frame at each point of intersection by a separate connecting element. The free ends of each hoop and those of two handle elements of inverted U-form are joined by a top edge frame which includes two longitudinal members on which are engaged, spaced by distance pieces, the free ends of the hoops and the handle elements, and two transverse members connected to the ends of the longitudinal members.