Ben Saunders Found Dead at 43 as Dutch Police Rule Out Foul Play

Q: What mysterious circumstances led to the sudden disappearance and tragic death of reality TV pioneer Ben Saunders at the Arnhem lake?

Ben Saunders appears to have gone missing suddenly on the morning of Sept. 15 before being found dead hours later in the Rijkerswoerdse Plassen recreational lake near Arnhem; police have said there is no evidence of foul play, but the exact cause and circumstances of his death have not been made public. What is known is limited but consistent across Dutch reports. Saunders, 43, was reported missing earlier that day, prompting a search at the lake on the Arnhem-Elst border. Authorities and witnesses were reportedly looking for a bearded man with distinctive tattoos, matching Saunders’ description. Some reports said a bystander saw a man enter the water and not re-emerge, which led to a major response involving boats, divers, dogs and a helicopter. A body was recovered at about 1:20 p.m. local time. Police later confirmed that the death is not being treated as a crime. That rules out foul play, but it does not explain why he disappeared or entered the water. No official cause of death has been released, and police have not disclosed further personal details. The result is that the “mystery” lies less in any sign of criminality than in the unanswered timeline: Saunders was reported missing, a search was launched, and he was then found in the lake the same afternoon. Beyond that, officials have released no verified explanation.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Sep 16

Ben Saunders, the first winner of "The Voice of Holland," was found dead Tuesday at age 43 at Arnhem's Rijkerswoerdse Plassen recreational lake.
Police recovered his body at 1:20 p.m. local time and said foul play had been ruled out, though no cause of death was disclosed.
Dean Saunders, his older brother, announced the death in an Instagram tribute, while former "The Voice of Holland" coach Marco Borsato also posted condolences.
Saunders won the show's first season in 2011, released two albums including the hit "Kill for a Broken Heart," and later returned to work as a tattoo artist while continuing music.