Ben Saunders, first winner of The Voice, found dead in a lake

Ben Saunders, the first winner of “The Voice of Holland,” was found dead on Tuesday, September 15, in the Rijkerswoerdse Plassen recreational lake near Arnhem, Netherlands. The singer was 43 years old, and police have ruled out foul play.

The artist’s body was recovered around 1:20 pm following a search operation in the swimming area located between Arnhem and Elst. His family confirmed his death later that evening. The Dutch public broadcaster NOS reported that authorities had strong reasons to believe it was the singer before his relatives made the announcement.

The exact cause of death has not been disclosed. However, the police unit in eastern Netherlands confirmed to People that no criminal activity is suspected. In the absence of further official conclusions, the precise circumstances of the death remain undetermined.

Dean Saunders announced the news on Instagram with a childhood photo of the two brothers. He expressed immense pain and requested respect for the singer’s family. Marco Borsato, a former coach on the show, also paid tribute to him.

Born in London and raised in the Netherlands, Ben Saunders rose to fame in January 2011 as the winner of the very first season of “The Voice of Holland,” the program that launched the international franchise. His debut single, “Kill for a Broken Heart,” reached the top of the Dutch charts, as did his album “You Thought You Knew Me by Now.”

Also known by the nickname “Tattoo Ben,” he balanced his music career with his work as a tattoo artist in Arnhem. He had also appeared on television in 2023 in the competition “Avastars,” as noted by the Dutch site NL Times.