Sydney - A 26-year-old man from a remote Aboriginal community who had tested positive for swine flu died Friday in an Adelaide hospital.

South Australia state health authorities said the death would not be listed as a swine flu casualty because the man had been admitted to an intensive care unit in the hospital suffering from other serious diseases before he was confirmed to have swine flu on Thursday.

"His other medical conditions had dramatically deteriorated by the time he got to Adelaide," state chief medical officer Paddy Phillips said. "Tragic though this case is, it's important to note that in the great majority of cases, swine flu causes a mild illness which people recover from without any medical intervention."

It is the first time a confirmed swine flu case has led to a death in Australia. (dpa)