SAD NEWS: The Voice presenter d!es in a tragic accident after being reported missing. Police are urgently investigating the cause.
The Voice winner Ben Saunders has died aged 43 after being reported missing, with his family confirming the devastating news following a major search operation.
The London-born singer, who won the first series of The Voice of Holland, was found dead in the water at Rijkerswoerdse Plassen near Arnhem in the Netherlands on Tuesday, September 15.
Police have reportedly ruled out foul play.
Ben’s older brother Dean Saunders, who also found fame through Dutch television talent competitions, confirmed his death in an emotional tribute shared on Instagram.
Posting a childhood photograph of the brothers together, Dean wrote: “My dear little brother passed away today… I have never felt pain like this before… what a terrible day for all of us.”
He asked that the family’s grief be treated with respect and spoke of the enormous love surrounding his younger brother.
“Ben had a beautiful family and relatives who love him dearly—and I always will, too,” Dean continued.
“Ben is in my heart, and he will stay there forever.”
Final Social Media Post Shared Days Before Death
The heartbreaking news came just three days after Ben shared what would become his final social media post.
The singer appeared alongside his fiancée Janita Engels at a wedding, where he had performed for the bride and groom.
There was nothing in the post to suggest the tragedy that would follow only days later.
Ben, who was also a tattoo artist and became known as “Tattoo Ben”, had spent most of his life in the Netherlands after moving there with his family when he was three years old.
Music became a major part of his life from an early age, with Ben and Dean repeatedly appearing together in television talent competitions.
In 2000, the brothers competed on Alles voor de band: Follow That Dream and became members of the group Follow That Dream, also known as F.T.D.
The band signed with Dino Music and released its self-titled debut single later that year.
“Follow That Dream” reached number 25 in the Dutch Top 40, although the group split around six months later.
Ben and Dean continued pursuing music.
In 2003, they competed together in the Dutch Nationaal Songfestival, the selection process used to choose the Netherlands’ Eurovision Song Contest entry.
Performing under the name The Brothers, they sang “Stand As One” in the third heat.
They finished seventh out of eight acts after receiving 10 points and three per cent of the public vote.
Ben Became a Star on The Voice
Ben’s biggest television success came years later when he auditioned for The Voice of Holland.
His performance of Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody” impressed the coaches and helped establish him as one of the standout contestants of the series.
He joined the team of Dutch singer-songwriter Roel van Velzen and continued progressing through the competition.
In January 2011, Ben was crowned the winner.
Remarkably, his victory came just one day before Dean achieved his own major television success by winning the third season of Dutch talent show Popstars.
The brothers’ back-to-back victories became a memorable moment in their careers.
Fans Share Heartbreaking Tributes
News of Ben’s death prompted an outpouring of grief from viewers who remembered watching him on The Voice.
One fan recalled being “glued to the screen” during the season Ben won and described his death as incredibly sad for his relatives and friends.
Another simply wrote: “Rest in peace, Ben,” while sending strength to everyone who loved him.
Other messages described his death as an “unimaginable” loss and offered condolences to his family.
One particularly emotional tribute reflected on how young Ben was and the life he still appeared to have ahead of him.
“I’m shaken,” the fan wrote, describing the news as difficult to comprehend and saying words did not feel enough.
For many viewers, Ben will remain closely associated with the Voice of Holland series that transformed him from a familiar talent-show contestant into a national winner.
But for his family, the loss is far more personal.
Dean’s message made clear the depth of that grief, describing September 15 as a terrible day for everyone closest to Ben.
Ben leaves behind his family, fiancée and loved ones, as well as fans who followed his journey from his earliest television appearances through to his unforgettable victory on The Voice.
