The Voice Holland winner Ben Saunders found dead, aged 43

London-born singer Ben Saunders, who found fame as the first winner of The Voice Holland, has died, aged 43.

The father-of-three’s body was found in a lake in Rijkerswoerdse Plassen, a recreational lake in Elst, south-east of Amsterdam.

Dutch police had said they were looking for a missing person, described as “a 43-year-old man, white skin, white shirt, blue jeans, black shoes, and various tattoos on his head and neck, on his arms and hands”.

Hours later on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST), the body was discovered in the water and confirmed to be that of the singer.

Police do not suspect any foul play.

Police searched Saunders’ home in nearby Arnhem, local media reported, where Saunders and his fiancée Janita Engels moved to recently from Hoorn in North Holland.

The grim find comes almost 16 years to the date of Saunders’ appearance on the reality TV series, which kicked off on September 17, 2010. He had all the coaches turn around for his rendition of Use Somebody by Kings of Leon.

The tattooed crooner, who was born to English parents but grew up in Hoorn, won the hearts of the nation and was crowned the inaugural winner of the singing contest in January 2011, in an episode watched by more than 3.7 million people.

But in the years since, Saunders was in the headlines for the wrong reasons.

This included being sentenced to community service for assault in 2016, becoming a member of an outlawed motorcycle club and, a year ago, his car was set alight.

He and his fiancée, who have a son together as well as children from previous relationships, opened a tattoo parlour together in 2018.

Earlier this year, Saunders said he’d suffered significant financial setbacks as his music career declined but wanted to continue singing and performing. He’d also dealt with health problems caused by hernias.

Saunders’ older brother Dean Saunders confirmed his sibling’s death and paid tribute to the singer.

“My dear little brother died today. I have never felt pain like I feel now,” he wrote.

“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.”

One of The Voice coaches, Marco Borsato, said his “heart is crying” at the news.

“Dear, special man ... I cannot find words for the emptiness you leave behind,” he wrote.

“Dear Janita, friends and family, much strength in processing this enormous loss.”