A device for lifting an article comprises a housing having a leading edge region in fluid communication with an inner chamber. The leading edge region is arranged to engage a region between an article and a support surface beneath the article. An elongate tubular member, closed at one end, and at the other end, in fluid communication with the leading edge region and the inner chamber. The housing is arranged to provide a retracted position in which the elongate tubular member is held relative to the leading edge region and responsive to an operative pressure within the inner chamber so as to unfurl beyond the leading edge region where the elongate tubular member migrates along the access region toward a deployed position in which the tubular member extends a distance such that opposed ends of the tubular member may be used in lifting the article from the support surface.