Police will seek the assistance of the Director of Public Prosecutions office to determine the appropriate charges to be laid against a Qamea villager whose boat caused the death of an American tourist over the weekend.

Regional Police Commander Northern, SP Luke Qionibaravi has confirmed that a villager is being questioned by Taveuni police and the file will be sent to the DPP's office for instruction.

The tourist was snorkeling in the Qamea waters on Saturday morning when he was hit by the propeller of an engine.

The villager went to the village and informed other villagers that he has hit something hard.

When the villagers arrived at the spot they found the tourist dead with severe head and body injuries.

A team of officers from Suva are in Taveuni conducting investigations.