A Norwegian man who spent more than two years sleeping at temples and in public areas around Pak Kret, Nonthaburi, is expected to return home after Thai immigration officers helped him contact his embassy.

Odd Stian Hesseberg, 44, was located at Wat Klang Kret on 7 August after social media users raised concern about a foreign man sleeping near the Pak Kret waterfront. Immigration authorities are now coordinating with the Norwegian Embassy to arrange his return to Norway in line with Thai law.

Hesseberg told reporters that he arrived in Thailand alone about two and a half years ago to meet a female friend in Nakhon Sawan. He said he later lost contact with her and travelled to Nonthaburi.

Passport loss and long overstay

He said a bag containing his passport and other documents was stolen in Nonthaburi, leaving him unable to resolve his situation. He subsequently lived rough, sleeping at temples and along the waterfront, while wanting to return to Norway but not knowing where to seek help.

Immigration officers checked his records after finding him at Wat Klang Kret. The records show that he entered Thailand on 3 March 2023 on a 30-day tourist visa, then received an extension allowing him to remain until 16 May 2023.

His immigration status now records an overstay of 1,179 days. Authorities said they are questioning Hesseberg while working with the Norwegian Embassy, to resolve outstanding issues and making arrangements for him to leave Thailand.

Temple staff had tried to help

Staff at the temple said they had previously attempted to assist Hesseberg's return, including arranging transport to the Norwegian Embassy around three months ago.

They said they had become concerned for his wellbeing because he was alone and regularly sleeping in public places.

After immigration officers took him away, Hesseberg thanked temple staff and local residents who had supported him during his time in Pak Kret. He said he was pleased that, after more than two years, he would finally be able to go back to Norway.

Picture courtesy of Khaosod

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10 August 2026

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Odd Stian is very odd indeed I would say.

It's hard to believe that a grown man could be so helpless. He even had transport to his embassy arranged by those who tried to help. Why didn't he go? Why didn't he report the loss of his passport to his embassy or, presumably, to the police who would have told him to do that? I guess there must be mental issues. Good that Thai officials stepped in to help.

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Immigration authorities are now coordinating with the Norwegian Embassy to arrange his return to Norway in line with Thai law.

This is another way to say that he’s being deported.

'Failing to prepare is preparing to fail' - Ben Franklin

Cautionary tale for anyone relocating to any country without a long term plan and/or the resources to succeed. Wish this guy well back in Norway, he'll want to rebuild and come back to LOS.

Wasn't the first and won't be the last.

Take care you adventurers.

Sounds like mental issues to me. Too many opportunities to rectify his situation

before. Something else going on here.

He can join the ranks of homeless people sleeping rough in Oslo, particularly around the train station.

I was shocked at the numbers when I visited 2 years ago. Perhaps because I envisaged there being none at all.

24 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

It's hard to believe that a grown man could be so helpless. He even had transport to his embassy arranged by those who tried to help. Why didn't he go? Why didn't he report the loss of his passport to his embassy or, presumably, to the police who would have told him to do that? I guess there must be mental issues. Good that Thai officials stepped in to help.

It is good that you are surrounded by competent and self-sufficient people who have probably also cultivated family and friend support networks of equally self-reliant people.

However, dig around in any developed nation, I assume you are from one, and you will find a huge subculture of people who are absolutely crap and whose lives are choc-a-bloc with problems, the majority of which are easily solvable and yet these people and those around them with similarly chaotic blighted lives carry on screwing up day after day. Alcoholism and drug addiction are very common. A strong determination not to try anything which may improve their situation is mandatory. A constant litany of excuses comes from their mouths.

Go to any town in the UK, where I am from, any small town of, say, 10,000 people, and I could find 20 people just like this guy. The difference here is that he chose to do it in Pak Kret sans the benefit system. But believe me they are out there in their tens of thousands everywhere in Europe.

Good, BYE BYE, be a vagrant in your home country. He certainly wouldn't be in TH, if TH had a few months of Norwegian winter.

I see Norway has 239,057 islands...

Surely this man can build a raft from empty soda bottles and float to one, build a shack, do some ice fishing and burn some of that famous Norwegian wood....?!?

I know, probably no rice whiskey nor $1 meth on those islands. 🤷

isn't it good, norwegian wood

Seems a sad state of affairs this guy had to put up with .but only has himself to blame

Probably more like him in Thailand

Anyway glad his problem has finally been resolved and he is on his way home

Good bye! Long overdue. Take another 100 with you

4 minutes ago, shackleton said:

Seems a sad state of affairs this guy had to put up with .but only has himself to blame

Probably more like him in Thailand

Anyway glad his problem has finally been resolved and he is on his way home

Compassion is rare nowadays.

I'm glad he will be on his way home too, and get proper help 👍

54 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

He can join the ranks of homeless people sleeping rough in Oslo, particularly around the train station.

I was shocked at the numbers when I visited 2 years ago. Perhaps because I envisaged there being none at all.

I guess you were at the spots where drug addicts do their thing, and live on the streets. All countries have some of them, I'm not surprised. Some fall between cracks in their country, no matter how rich the country is.

Don't understand why you would think there would be none.

Depression, anxiety, or mental conditions could put a human in hell.

12 minutes ago, OneManShow said:

Depression, anxiety, or mental conditions could put a human in hell.

Luckily, he ended up in Nonthaburi instead.

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

Good, BYE BYE, be a vagrant in your home country. He certainly wouldn't be in TH, if TH had a few months of Norwegian winter.

Nah, he might have had his eyes on where he could afford to "live". Thailand is certainly a lot cheaper than one of the most expensive countries in the world.

But in this story, like in thousands of others, there was a girl involved..

No mention of overstay fines and who is paying for his repatriation?

1 hour ago, LALes said:

Sounds like mental issues to me. Too many opportunities to rectify his situation

before. Something else going on here.

Could it be that he just loves the country and will do anything to stay? It's entirely possible.

6 minutes ago, Gandtee said:

No mention of overstay fines and who is paying for his repatriation?

...or a GoFundMe.

Honestly, do overstay fines and repatriation costs really matter here? He's going home which is good news for all concerned.

Yes, it does matter. I wish him well, but I should imagine that there may be others here on overstay, tempted to live rough and hope the authorities will forego any fines and put them on a plane home to their own country.

1179 days in overstay, that will say 589.500,-- THB, who gonna pay that?

Every Norwegian citizen get help immidiantly at the embassy with a temporary paper as passport substitute until a new one is issued!.

Probably he fall for the easy access of alcohol, which scandanavians like a lot and he forgot where he is living.....good he get send home and receive help in the gouverment social network .

Good reise Odd Stian......

14 minutes ago, Babasino said:

1179 days in overstay, that will say 589.500,-- THB, who gonna pay that?

Every Norwegian citizen get help immidiantly at the embassy with a temporary paper as passport substitute until a new one is issued!.

Probably he fall for the easy access of alcohol, which scandanavians like a lot and he forgot where he is living.....good he get send home and receive help in the gouverment social network .

Good reise Odd Stian......

It does not work like that,if he goes to court the fine will be most likely 2500 baht.

Than of to IDC until a ticket is arranged and than on his way home.

From the article it sounds like he is getting help so maybe court and straight to the airport?

42 minutes ago, Gandtee said:

Yes, it does matter. I wish him well, but I should imagine that there may be others here on overstay, tempted to live rough and hope the authorities will forego any fines and put them on a plane home to their own country.

There's no indication that he is not going to be subject to fines for the overstay or that the authorities will be paying for his flight home without a commitment from him for repayment.

28 minutes ago, Babasino said:

1179 days in overstay, that will say 589.500,-- THB, who gonna pay that

No one, because no one will have to pay that, the maximum fine is B20,000.

56 minutes ago, Gandtee said:

Yes, it does matter. I wish him well, but I should imagine that there may be others here on overstay, tempted to live rough and hope the authorities will forego any fines and put them on a plane home to their own country.

I can assure you that neither the Norwegian embassy, nor the Norwegian authorities in any way, will pay for his return to Norway.

The embassy's role in this is solely to assist with practical issues, like contacting family or friends at home, who will pay for his return.

The same goes for most other countries.

I have heard though, that the US embassy may assist with a loan. The Norwegian embassy does not.

The Thai authorities never assist with money or a free travel home, but they are alerting the embassies in respective countries, and work with them as far as they can.

Edited August 10Aug 10 by thaibreaker

1 hour ago, thaibreaker said:

Compassion is rare nowadays.

I'm glad he will be on his way home too, and get proper help 👍

Indeed- I hope he receives the support he needs and that he is able to gain some security

3 hours ago, wavodavo said:

Odd Stian is very odd indeed I would say.

His name fts him well. Stian means wanderer. And yes, his deck of cards looks like it is missing a few cards. 😄

1 hour ago, hughrection said:

Could it be that he just loves the country and will do anything to stay? It's entirely possible.

Agree. HIs statement that he wanted to return to Norway but didn't know how to seek help is rediculous.

sounds like despair depression and mental problems, thats a long time to be sleeping on the street.