Is it okay to take inspiration from a real-life horrible event?

Something happened recently, and now I can't stop thinking about it as story material, which feels a little wrong??

A friend of mine microwaved a live lobster. Against my advice. It exploded. His girlfriend was in the room and said she could hear it hitting the door trying to get out, and she's been a mess ever since. My friend's defense was basically "how was I supposed to know," which... I don't even know where to start with that..

Neither of them are really okay right now. But the whole thing lodged itself in my brain and I genuinely can't stop pulling at the story threads it left behind.

Is it too soon to use this? Do I need to ask permission?? Has anyone taken something from real life before the people involved were ready, and did it feel okay later?