Ben Saunders, the inaugural champion of the global singing competition franchise The Voice, has died at the age of 43. Saunders achieved fame in 2011 after winning the debut season of The Voice of Holland, a Dutch series that served as the blueprint for the international franchise, including NBC's version of the program.
According to Dutch News and the public broadcaster NOS, authorities were alerted that Saunders had gone missing on the morning of his death. A police search, which described the individual as a 43-year-old man with a beard and various tattoos, led to the recovery of his body at 1:20 p.m. local time. While an official cause of death has not yet been determined, local reports indicate that police do not suspect any foul play.
The musician's brother, Dean Saunders, confirmed the loss in a poignant tribute on Instagram. Sharing a childhood photograph of the pair, he wrote, "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 further honored his brother on the Instagram page for their shared business, Tattoo Saunders, stating, "Rest in peace my little brother. Ben Saunders will never be forgotten."
Marco Borsato, who served as a coach on The Voice of Holland, also shared his grief on social media. "Dear, special man, my heart is crying! I can't find words for the emptiness you leave behind," Borsato wrote, offering support to Saunders' family and his fiancée, Janita. Borsato also posted a video performance of himself and Saunders singing the song “Dochters” (Daughters) on stage together.
Born in London, Saunders moved to the Netherlands with his family during his childhood. He rose to national prominence in 2010 after auditioning for the Dutch singing competition with a rendition of Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody.” Following his victory, his original finale song, “Kill for a Broken Heart,” reached No. 4 on the Dutch Top 40. The track was featured on his chart-topping debut solo album, You Thought You Knew Me By Now, which was released in April 2011.
