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

WHO:

Fox News - Ben Saunders is survived by his fiancée, Janita, and his three children.

Deadline - Ben Saunders, the first-ever winner of The Voice, was a London-born Dutch singer.

Deadline - His brother, Dean Saunders, announced his death on Instagram.

WHAT:

Fox News - Saunders won the first season of "The Voice of Holland" in 2011.

Fox News - His biggest hit was the song, "Kill for a Broken Heart."

Fox News - He released his debut album, "You Thought You Knew Me by Now," in April 2011.

Fox News - Saunders released a second album in 2012.

Fox News - Police recovered Ben Saunders' body from the lake at 1:20 PM local time.

Fox News - The Police Unit East Netherlands confirmed that foul play has been ruled out.

ComingSoon.net - Ben Saunders passed away at the age of 43.

Deadline - His death was described as unexpected.

WHERE:

Deadline - Ben Saunders was found dead in a popular recreational lake in the Netherlands.

WHEN:

Deadline - Ben Saunders was found dead on Tuesday, September 15.

WHY:

Deadline - The cause of death has not been specified in the articles.

HOW:

Fox News - Marco Borsato, a former coach on "The Voice of Holland," expressed his sorrow on Instagram, stating, "Dear, special man, my heart is crying! I can't find words for the emptiness you leave behind."

Fox News - Marco Borsato, a former coach on "The Voice of Holland," shared two tributes to Saunders on Instagram, including a video of the singer on the show and a photo of them on stage together.

Fox News - Dean Saunders shared a photo of the two of them as children and wrote, "What a terrible day for all of us. We have to learn to live with this and I hope this will be handled respectfully... 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 ❤️🙏".

Deadline - His brother expressed his grief on Instagram, stating, “My dear little brother died today. I have never felt such pain as I…”

(UPDATED September 17, 2026 02:10 UTC)

Marco Borsato, known for his role as a coach on "The Voice of Holland," shared his heartfelt sorrow on Instagram, saying, "Dear, special man, my heart is crying! I can't find words for the emptiness you leave behind." His emotional tribute highlights the profound impact of loss felt by those close to him. Borsato's words resonate with many who are mourning during this difficult time.

(UPDATED September 17, 2026 00:02 UTC)

Saunders, who won the first season of "The Voice of Holland" in 2011, is remembered for his biggest hit, "Kill for a Broken Heart." He released his debut album, "You Thought You Knew Me by Now," in April 2011, followed by a second album in 2012. Marco Borsato, a coach on the show, paid tribute to Saunders on Instagram with a video of him performing and a photo of them together on stage.

(UPDATED September 16, 2026 21:02 UTC)

Ben Saunders, who is survived by his fiancée Janita and their three children, was found deceased in a lake, with police confirming that foul play has been ruled out. His brother, Dean Saunders, expressed his grief by sharing a childhood photo and reflecting on the love Ben's family has for him, stating, "Ben had a beautiful beautiful family and a family that loves him very much and always will." The tragic news has deeply affected those who knew him, as they come to terms with this significant loss.

(UPDATED September 16, 2026 19:05 UTC)

Ben Saunders, the first-ever winner of The Voice and a London-born Dutch singer, has passed away at the age of 43, with his brother Dean announcing the news on Instagram. He was found dead in a popular recreational lake in the Netherlands, and the circumstances surrounding his death have been described as unexpected, though the cause has not been specified. Dean expressed his deep grief on social media, sharing, “My dear little brother died today. I have never felt such pain as I…”