Woman beats, chokes daughter, 11, in near-fatal 'exorcism': Police

A mother has been charged with attempted murder after witnesses saw her allegedly try to perform a brutal exorcism on her naked 11-year-old daughter on a California beach in the US.

Police said the group of about 12 witnesses saw 45-year-old Kimberley Felder allegedly bite, choke and hit her child on the head with driftwood, claiming she was trying to “remove demons”.

Witnesses also described seeing the woman allegedly shove sand into the young girl's mouth and eyes at the secluded Centerville Beach, near Ferndale in the state’s north, on June 16.

Local man John Marciel called 911 as he tried to restrain Felder as she allegedly attacked the young girl but the woman continued her assault, according to Humboldt County Sherrif’s Office.

Police arrived on the scene and pulled the 45-year-old from the child and put her in handcuffs, while the 11-year-old girl was rushed to hospital with multiple injuries including severe damage to her right ear.

Felder was charged with attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, felony child abuse and aggravated mayhem.

Mr Marciel, who was at the beach with some visiting friends, said he was happy he was there to stop the attack.

"The worst thing was when we got the child away and into the sheriff's truck, she said people drove by and nobody stopped," Marciel said, according to Associated Press.

"When you see something like this, it shakes your foundation and faith in people," he said.

The Sherriff’s Office said the girl would have likely been killed if it were not for Marciel’s heroic actions, and it will nominate him for a Red Cross Life Saving Award.