First-ever ‘The Voice’ winner found dead at age 43

Ben Saunders, the first winner of “The Voice of Holland,” has died at the age of 43. The singer, who was a contestant in 2011 on the Dutch version of the reality show that has since found success in countries around the world, including the US, was found dead at the Rijkerswoerdse Plassen recreational lake in the Netherlands Tuesday afternoon, the local outlet De Telegraaf reported. The outlet reported that Saunders was found during a search for a man with “various tattoos on his head and neck, on his arms and hands.” Ben Saunders, the first winner of “The Voice of Holland,” has died. (Seen above: Saunders performing in 2011.) Redferns According to a local outlet, the singer (seen here) was found dead at the Rijkerswoerdse Plassen recreational lake on Tuesday afternoon. Instagram/@bensaundersmusic A cause of death wasn’t immediately revealed, and police ruled out foul play. Saunders’ partner, Juanita, and their 9-year-old son, Benji, mourned the TV personality in a heartbreaking Instagram statement Wednesday. “To quote our son Benji: Mom, I have a hole in my heart that is only one percent full,” Juanita wrote. “This loss leaves an indescribably huge void in our lives. We earnestly ask everyone to respect our privacy during this incredibly difficult time.” Juanita invited fans to pay their respects at the tattoo studio she owned with Saunders, Craftman’s Tattoo, in Arnhem on Saturday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. local time. Saunders was a tattoo artist with more than 25 years of experience. Officers located Saunders (seen here) after looking for someone with “various tattoos on his head and neck, on his arms and hands.” Instagram/@bensaundersmusic Police don’t expect foul play. (Seen here: Saunders.) Instagram Additionally, Ben’s brother, Dean Saunders, addressed the reality star’s tragic passing in an emotional statement shared via Instagram. “My sweet little brother passed away today,” he wrote, alongside a throwback photo of himself and Ben in red sweaters. “I have never experienced such pain as I feel right now. What a terrible day for all of us.” “We have to learn to live with this and I hope this will be handled respectfully. Ben had a beautiful, beautiful family and a family that loves him very much and always will … Ben is in my heart and he will stay there forever ❤️🙏,” he concluded. A cause of death wasn’t immediately revealed. (Seen here: Saunders.) Instagram/@bensaundersmusic Saunders is survived by his partner, Juanita, and their son, Benji. (Seen here: Juanita and Saunders.) Instagram Want more celebrity and pop culture news? Start your day with Page Six Daily. Thanks for signing up! Marco Borsato, a former “Voice” coach, mourned Ben by posting a song of them singing a duet to Borsato’s 2011 song, “Dochters,” on the competition series. “💔💔💔,” he captioned the sentimental clip. Additionally, he shared a follow-up tribute with a photo of himself and Ben on the series, writing, “Dear, special man, my heart is crying!” Ben (seen here) was mourned by his family. Redferns “What a terrible day for all of us,” his brother, Dean Saunders, wrote via Instagram. (Seen here: Saunders and Marco Borsato.) Redferns “I can’t find words for the emptiness you leave behind,” he continued, also penning a message to Ben’s family, “Dear Juanita, friends and family, lots of strength in processing this enormous loss.” Ben won the Netherlands’ version of “The Voice” — where the show originated — during the first season. The show’s success led to the franchise expanding globally with 150 adaptations as of 2023, per ITV. Community Guidelines Welcome to the Page Six Community! Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas in a safe space. In order to do so, we've created a simple set of rules that will improve your experience. Simply put, keep it civil. Your post will/might be rejected if it contains: Spam Insults, profanity, incoherent, obscene or inflammatory language and threats of any kind Attacks on the identity of other commenters or the article's author User accounts will/might be blocked if we notice: Continuous attempts to re-post comments that have been previously moderated/rejected Racist, sexist, or homophobic comments Attempts or tactics that put the site security at risk So, how can you be a power user? Stay on topic and share your passion. Feel free to elaborate to get your point across. 'Like' or 'Dislike' when you are filled with emotions! Protect your community. Use the report tool to alert us when someone breaks the rules. Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Don't forget, freedom of speech is not the freedom of reach!