Six people aboard when helicopter crashed in poor weather conditions.

An emergency services helicopter has crashed in the central Italian province of L'Aquila, with six people aboard, according to Italian news agency ANSA.

The helicopter was reportedly in the process of taking an injured skier from a piste at the Campo Felice ski resort when it came down from a height of around 600 metres, in poor weather conditions.

The helicopter was not engaged in the rescue effort on at Hotel Rigopiano, following the devastating avalanche on the Gran Sasso, whose death toll has risen to 15.

The rescue helicopters normally have two pilots, a doctor, a nurse and a mountain rescue officer aboard, according to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.