Body Found During Search for Missing The Voice Winner Ben Saunders

A body has been found during a search for missing Dutch singer Ben Saunders in a recreational area south of Arnhem.

Friends of the 43-year-old singer told De Telegraaf that they believe the body is Saunders. However, authorities have not yet officially confirmed the identity.

Saunders, who won the first season of The Voice of Holland in 2011, had been reported missing earlier in the day.

Police later issued a Burgernet alert for a 43-year-old man with a beard and several tattoos, a description matching Saunders.

A major search was launched, involving police dogs, divers and a police helicopter. At around 1:20 p.m., a body was discovered in the area.

Police said an investigation has ruled out a crime.

Friends and relatives gathered at the Rijkerswoerdse Plassen recreational area following the discovery.

Saunders grew up in Hoorn and is the son of English parents. He became widely known in the Netherlands after winning the first season of The Voice of Holland in 2011.

His brother Dean Saunders also won the Dutch talent show Popstars shortly afterwards.

In later years, Ben Saunders faced several legal problems. In 2015, he was convicted after assaulting a traffic controller in Hoorn. He received 180 hours of community service and was ordered to pay compensation.

He was also ordered to pay for damage linked to an incident at a café in Landsmeer in 2014.

Saunders recently moved to a caravan camp in Arnhem. He had previously opened a tattoo shop in the city.

Police have not yet officially confirmed that the body found during the search is Ben Saunders.