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Ben Saunders, the first-ever winner of “The Voice” franchise, has died at age 43.
Saunders won the debut season of “The Voice of Holland” in 2011, the Dutch singing competition that launched the international franchise and inspired NBC’s “The Voice.”
The singer was found dead on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at popular recreational lake Rijkerswoerdse Plassen in Elst on the border of Arnhem South in the Netherlands, according to local newspaper De Telegraaf.
Per Dutch News and public broadcaster NOS, Saunders had been reported missing that morning, and his body was recovered at 1:20 p.m. local time as police searched for “a 43-year-old man with a beard and various tattoos,” which matches his description.
An official cause of death has not been released, but police said no foul play is suspected, the local outlets said.
USA TODAY reached out to the Netherlands Police for comment.
Shortly after, the musician’s brother Dean Saunders confirmed his death in a heartfelt Instagram tribute featuring a photo of them as kids.
“My dear little brother passed away today… I have never experienced pain like what I am feeling 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…,” Dean Saunders wrote, translated from Dutch.
“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 “
Dean Saunders also shared a post on the Instagram page for his and Ben Saunders’ Tattoo Saunders business. “Rest in peace my little brother Ben Saunders will never be forgotten ,” the caption read.
Marco Borsato, a coach on “The Voice of Holland,” the original iteration of what became the global “The Voice” franchise, also honored Saunders on Instagram.
“Dear, special man, my heart is crying! I can’t find words for the emptiness you leave behind. Dear Janita, friends and family, lots of strength in processing this enormous loss. ,” Borsato wrote, referring to Ben’s fiancée, alongside a photo of him and Saunders on stage together.
He also shared a video of Saunders singing Borsato’s song, “Dochters,” which means “Daughters.” The caption was simply, “.”
Saunders was born in London and moved with his family to the Netherlands as a child. In 2010, he auditioned for “The Voice of Holland” with a cover of “Use Somebody” by the Kings of Leon and ultimately won the competition.
His finale song was “Kill for a Broken Heart,” an original that reached No. 4 on the Dutch Top 40 and was included on his chart-topping first solo album “You Thought You Knew Me By Now,” which released in April 2011.