After all, what makes ‘man’, man? Is it our flesh or is it the Spirit God put in us?
The interesting thing about Genesis 1:26, is, in Genesis 2:4, it says God created man ‘before any shrub appeared or any plant sprung up’. This seems to indicate that ‘man’ in some way, preceded the Genesis 1 creation (at least the vegetation steps.) Could this be reflecting on our true selves, our Spirit? All through the Bible, it says that we are not our body, we are our Spirit.
I heard a rabbi once explain that 'man is alive as long as there is breath.' Therefore when man dies and breath is no more what is left? spirit! I believe the answer to your stated question is man survives only with the spirit within but the spirit lives within and also beyond the flesh and ceasing of breath.