Air Traffic Controller lauded as hero for sacrificing himself to save passenger plane during Indonesia's Earthquake

An Indonesian air traffic controller was hailed as guardian angel of a commercial airline for not leaving his post amid a terrible earthquake and tsunami.

Anthonius Gunawan Agung, 21, died on Friday's earthquake was among at leas 1,230 people who died in the devastating 7.5 magnitude quake and tsunami that hit Sulawesi island.

Agung jumped from his fourth-storey post in a crumbling control tower right after he saw pilot Ricoseta Mafella's plane clear the runway, Reuters reported.

"He stayed... until the last of my departure, until the tower was shaking very bad," Mafella told Reuters."Once he made sure that the aircraft had departed safely, he jumped from his tower to the lower level."

"I think he did a very heroic action, he did his job professionally, and I think he should be honored,"Mafella said."I call him my guardian angel."

The young hero has been honored not only by Mafella, but the people of Indonesia as the country mourns for the almost 1300 people confirmed killed by the huge quake.

Many people joined in praise to the young hero with Reuters reporting tributes from ordinary citizens by sharing this art for Agung.

               From: Instagram/KOMIKFAKTAP/REUTERS: Social media art in tribute to Anthonius Gunawan Agung  YOU MAY LIKE: