This week's total blackout affecting the entire state of South Australia was especially painful for some families who lost their embryos that were being stored at an Adelaide fertility clinic.
Flinders Fertility has confirmed that a number of families and clinic workers were left heartbroken after embryos became "unviable" when a power backup failed to kick in during the blackout.
"This is a devastating situation for our patients, and very distressing for our staff," the clinic said in a statement.
"Flinders Fertility has expressed its deepest sympathies to families whose fertility treatments were affected by [the] catastrophic power failure."
South Australian health minister Jack Snelling confirmed to the ABC on Friday morning that generators at the Flinders Medical Clinic had been checked in anticipation of the storm, but power still went out at the private fertility clinic within the centre.
"Without power, there was nothing [the fertility clinic workers] could do to save those embryos," he said.
The clinic has offered the affected families free priority treatment if they wish to undergo the procedures again.
SA's blackout destroyed embryos at Flinders Medical Centre - families left devastated. Flinders statement attached.… https://t.co/CmEcQ1MpKN