Ben Saunders, First Dutch 'The Voice' Winner, Dies at 43

Ben Saunders, the inaugural winner of the Dutch version of the reality singing competition "The Voice," has died at the age of 43. Saunders was found deceased on Tuesday afternoon at the Rijkerswoerdse Plassen recreational lake in the Netherlands, according to reports from De Telegraaf. The Dutch "The Voice" was the original iteration of the format, which was later sold to countries including the United States and Israel.

His body was reportedly discovered during a search for a man matching a description that included "various tattoos on the head and neck, arms and hands." While the cause of death has not been publicly disclosed, police have ruled out foul play. Saunders, who was also a tattoo artist with over 25 years of experience, was a co-owner of the Craftman's Tattoo studio in Arnhem.

Saunders' partner, Juanita, and their 9-year-old son, Benji, shared a poignant message on Instagram. "To quote our son Benji: 'Mom, I have a hole in my heart that only one percent of it is filled,'" Juanita wrote. "This loss leaves an immense void that cannot be described in our lives. We sincerely ask everyone to respect our privacy during this difficult time."

Juanita invited fans to visit Craftman's Tattoo on Saturday to pay their respects. Saunders' brother, Dean Saunders, also posted a tribute on Instagram, expressing profound grief and love for his "sweet little brother."