But the rescue basket in the tram proved cumbersome.

Mr. Marshall, who by then was grinning with relief, was helped into a rescue basket and hoisted into the sky, the police said.

After Captain Jonas left, they took Ms. Harris out in a rescue basket.

Goodwin's plan included his climbing up the building and connecting cables to the floors to enable rescue baskets to be ferried to and from helicopters.

But the sailors made no effort to climb into the rescue basket, forcing the swimmer to "drag them out" of the raft, Petty Officer Foreman said.

Surveying my pitiful little crew, one of them suggested getting the chopper airborne and lowering the rescue basket in the front yard.

Skinner pointed up at the helicopter, which already had begun lowering a rescue basket over the flipped kayak.

In the heat and high anxiety, there was difficulty hanging onto the people on backboards and in rescue baskets being handed down.

Image:Lowering rescue basket.

The shaft will be wide enough for a rescue basket, but must be precisely drilled, Mr. Hess said.