Cargo Ship Crashes into Norwegian Retiree's Backyard

A retired museum director in Norway discovers an enormous cargo ship lodged next to his home, prompting shock and awe among locals.

In a bizarre turn of events, a retiree in Byneset, a suburb of Trondheim, Norway, woke up to an unexpected sight on Thursday morning: the bow of a cargo ship, the NCL Salten, had run aground just a few yards from his house. Johan Helberg was alerted by a neighbor pounding at his door, urging him to look outside at the shocking scene unfolding in his backyard.

“I was deep in sleep when I heard some dinging, which I initially thought was my doorbell,” reminisced Helberg. “It was 5:45 a.m., so I wondered why anyone would be ringing my doorbell at that hour. Then my neighbor told me about the ship.”

The ship, towering dramatically over Helberg's property, narrowly missed crashing into his bedroom, cutting the distance to just five or six yards. “If it had been on a slightly different course, it could have built up speed and collided with my house,” he said, reflecting on the surreal nature of the incident. “It was completely surreal.”

Despite the shocking nature of this encounter, Helberg maintained his composure, attributing his calmness to his life experiences. “I impressed myself by staying cool. I have seen and been through worse.” Meanwhile, his neighbor, who witnessed the ship's approach, spent the day in shock, as did many other residents of Norway, captivated by images of the massive vessel lodged on unsuspecting land. The incident has since sparked widespread curiosity and discussions among the community.