The Voice winner found dead in lake aged 43
A winner of The Voice has been found dead in a lake in the Netherlands.
The Voice champion Ben Saunders has been found dead in a lake at the age of 43.
The star, who won the Dutch version of the singing competition in 2011, was discovered at about 1.20pm in the Rijkerswoerdse Plassen, located near Arnhem in the Netherlands, hours after he was reported missing on Tuesday morning (15.09.26).
Police, who are "currently visibly present at the Rijkerswoerdse Plassen in connection with a missing person", have ruled out foul play, but gave no cause of death for Ben.
The dad-of-three's passing was confirmed by his brother Dean on Instagram.
He penned: "My dear little brother died today. I have never felt pain like I feel now.
"What a terrible day for all of us. We have to learn to live with this and I hope it is treated with respect.
"Ben had a beautiful family and relatives who love him dearly.
"I will always do so too. Ben is in my heart and he will stay there forever. (sic)"
Tributes have poured in for the entertainer, who is survived by his fiancee Janita and their three children.
Former Voice Holland coach Marco Borsato, 59, wrote online: "Dear, special man, my heart is crying. I cannot find words for the emptiness you leave behind.
"Dear Janita, friends and family, much strength in processing this enormous loss."
And a fan on Instagram typed: "Condolences and lots of strength and courage to Dean and family."
Born in London in July 1983, Ben grew up in Hoorn, the Netherlands.
He impressed the coaches on The Voice with his performance of Kings of Leon's Use Somebody.
Ben claimed victory on the show with 59 per cent of the vote, with his winning single, Kill for a Broken Heart, topping the Single Top 100 chart.
In recent years, Ben ran a tattoo shop in Arnhem.
