New Delhi, India (BBN) – A 51-year-old non-resident India (NRI) suspected to be suffering from swine flu died at a private hospital in Kollam district of Kerala, health officials confirmed Thursday.

The NRI, who would be the first victim of the flu in India, died shortly after he was admitted to the district hospital in on Wednesday night, they added.

The man, identified as Stanely Pelis, had returned from the United Kingdom (UK) in early June. The end came around 9 pm (local time), just a couple of hours after he was admitted to the Holy Cross hospital, the state’s director of health services K Shylaja reportedly said.

Shylaja also said a throat swab has been sent to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases in the capital, Delhi to identify if it was indeed the H1N1 virus.

BBN/SS/SI/AD-3July09-6:21 am (BST)