CAMPAIGNERS today claimed that more people would have died in the Burton Bradstock drowning tragedy if the Portland search and rescue helicopter had been axed.

In the aftermath of the accident - which claimed the life of a 35-year-old holidaymaker and has left a seven-year-old boy fighting for survival - it is feared the death toll would have been higher if the helicopter was not based nearby.

It was on scene within five minutes and winched the boy and a lifeguard who had gone to his rescue to safety.

Last year, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency proposed relocating it more than 50 miles away to Lee-on-Solent, Hampshire.

But a seven-month campaign backed by the Dorset Echo to retain it on the island led to the Government's funding of a £1.5 million site for Whiskey Bravo at Osprey Quay.

It took the lifesaving aircraft only five minutes to reach the spot where five people were stranded at sea on Thursday but a crucial extra 15 minutes could have passed if it had flown from its sister station.

Portland Coastguard watch assistant Chris Newton said: "If the helicopter had come from Lee-on-Solent it would have taken a lot longer - about 20 minutes. It was essential that it stayed here."

South Dorset MP Jim Knight, a leading figure in the campaign, paid tribute to the crew and said: "At the time, one of the things we were pointing out to ministers and the coastguard agency was exactly this sort of tragedy.

"There probably would have been more fatalities if it hadn't been for the Portland helicopter. It saved further loss of life."

Weymouth dive shop owner Janine Gould helped to collect more than 20,000 signatures for a petition to keep the search and rescue aircraft on Portland.

She said: "Thank God it was here. That is exactly the reason it needs to be local."

Purbeck councillor Malcolm Shakesby, a former merchant navy mariner, said the Portland Coastguard helicopter had 'proved its worth' and thanked everyone involved in the battle to preserve it.

He said: "I welcome the fact we have still got Whiskey Bravo. People need to realise we are a marine coastline and we have accidents."

West Dorset County Councillor Gwyn Pritchard, who lives in Burton Bradstock, added it was 'fortunate' the helicopter was based on Portland.