Ben Saunders, First Winner of The Voice, 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. The Dutch edition of "The Voice" was the original format, which was later sold to the United States, Israel, and numerous other countries, making Saunders the first-ever winner of the franchise.

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 released, police have ruled out foul play. Saunders was also a tattoo artist with over 25 years of experience.

Saunders' partner, Juanita, and their 9-year-old son, Benjamin, shared a statement on Instagram. "To quote our son Benjamin: '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 in Arnhem, the studio she co-owned with Saunders, on Saturday to bid farewell. Saunders' brother, Dean Saunders, also posted a tribute on Instagram, expressing his profound grief and love for his "sweet little brother."