Oldham Mountain Rescue Team were contacted by police asking for assistance with reports of a walker who had heard shouts for help in the Dovestones area.
However, the exact location of the walker and the shouts was initially unclear on Friday (10 February).
As the team were deploying towards some potential sites, the callout officer managed to make contact with the walker and established the shouts had been heard above Chew Track on the edge path.
The team directed assets, including the National Police Air Service HQ helicopter, to the specific location and its associated paths.
A spokesperson for OMRT said: "After searching for nearly two hours, a group of young males was eventually identified as having been in the area of the shouting, and at a time.
“They were escorted down to the reservoir path and, following a discussion with GMP Saddleworth & Lees admitted they may have been shouting at one point, although it was apparent that they had meant no malice by it.
“While it may be tempting to call this a waste of resources, we are not of that opinion. The initial caller genuinely believed someone was shouting for help and raised the alarm accordingly.
“The males did not intentionally mislead anyone and admitted their folly when questioned, and we were able to be sure that we could close down the incident knowing that all were accounted for. A great display of inter-agency cooperation from all involved.”
Fifteen OMRT personnel were involved for three hours and 15 minutes.
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